Before you go

Two Days in Dayton, Ohio 

Day 1

Morning

• Eat a hefty breakfast fit for game day: The Ugly Duckling has a great menu full of tots, breakfast sandwiches, and burritos. Right across the street, The Gem City Catfe has local coffee and a cat lounge with rescue kittens.
• Stretch your legs: Take a walk in the 65-acre Carillon Historical Park. Check out the Carillon bells and snap photos of the best view of downtown Dayton. The park museum, which documents how Dayton became The Gem City, also tells the story of the Wright Brothers complete with some of their older inventions, including historic bikes.
• Soak up the sports history: Take a tour of Welcome Stadium, the 51-year-old home of the Dayton Flyers’ football team. This 11,000-seater stadium is tiny compared to nearby Ohio State’s 102,000-capacity behemoth, but then again that’s exactly the draw. Former NFL head coaches Jon Gruden and Brandon Staley both played college football here.

Mid day

• Browse a local market: Visit Dayton’s largest and oldest-operating public market at 2nd Street Market. Peruse food, agriculture, gardening supplies, and home decor, plus a great selection of local flowers. Or you can just walk around and enjoy the live music.
• Have a drink and a slice: Go for drinks and appetizers at The Foundry, which has space for large groups and a popular drink menu. The wood-fire pizza is a must have—try the nutty mushroom or buffalo chicken.

Afternoon

• Go to a D game: Get cheap seats on the lawn in left field and see one of the more talented Minor League Baseball teams in action. When you get hungry, try out the beef brisket sandwich at Monument Ave BBQ, a footlong hot dog from Mokies Sausage Shack, or a scoop of black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream from Greater’s. Take the family to the fun zone in center field which is open during every home game. Your kids will find inflatables, slides, and face painting; you’ll appreciate those very same items as acceptable, temporary childcare.

Evening

• Crack open a crab and a beer: Remember that restaurant you booked ahead of time? Dayton residents love to bring out of towners to Jay’s Seafood when they’re in the mood for a fancy meal. Once you're full of seafood, take a short drive to First Street and do some brewery hopping. There are a lot of solid options, including the Arcade Canal for more of a rock-and-roll vibe, and Local Cantina Brewing for tacos and tequila. Settle in at the Moeller Brew Barn and sit on the balcony overlooking Day Air Ballpark.

Day 2

Morning

• Start with something sweet: Another Broken Egg Cafe in Downtown Dayton was voted the best brunch in the area and offers all of the classics. You need to try the cinnamon roll French toast.
• Tour the gem of the Gem City: If you didn't literally drive straight here when you arrived, this is your second chance to experience the Wright Patterson Air Force Musesum, the crown jewel of any trip to Dayton (you could easily dedicate almost an entire day to your visit). Free tours start at 10 a.m. every morning and honor the lives and legacy of the Wright Brothers, who are from Dayton. The tour starts with the story of how the pair invented flight, told through a collection of planes hanging from the ceiling and parked on the floor of a massive hangar. See how the technology evolved for World War I, physically step inside several nearly century-old planes and learn about how the United States’ military strategy evolved to incorporate aircraft.

Mid day

• Get out with the trees: Get those endorphins going at Englewood Park, which is dedicated as a natural landmark because of its collection of rare trees including beautiful swamp white oak and pumpkin ash. Cycle across 340 miles of connected trails that can take you along the river and into downtown Dayton. Or follow the 10-mile hiking path (Patty Falls and Old National Road are great) through the woods and appreciate the unique flora that this park is known for. 
• Hit the buffet: You earned it, so it’s time for lunch at the MCL Cafeteria, which has a rotating buffet menu. It's been family owned for three generations and is well known for its flaky pie crust. 

Afternoon

• Meet some Flyers: Walk around the heart of the University of Dayton’s campus on Brown Street. The school was founded in 1850, and highlights on campus include the Immaculate Conception Chapel, which was built in 1869 and has beautiful glass windows, and the row of restaurants and bars on Brown Street, which are bustling with young people, talk of finals and parties, and cheap food for miles.
• Taste the hype: Visit Skyline Chili, a Midwest staple, for its unique take on a cheese coney with Cincinnati's classic thin chili with a cinnamon spice. 

Evening

• Dine like a hot shot: Pine Club is probably the most hyped steakhouse in Dayton, and the menu lives up to its reputation with quality you’d usually see in much bigger cities. The catch is that they don't take reservations, but the New York Times and the Food Network agree it’s worth the wait.
• Go, fight, win: Get a drink and watch the big game with the crowds at the Moeller Brew Barn, a popular place to watch NBA or NCAA Tournament games. Don't leave until you've ordered the chicken sandwich. 

If you have three days

All the above, but add…

• Be brave and put your golf swing on display in front of your friends at Top Golf in nearby Westchester. Yes, it's a chain, but Top Golf has one of the most underrated bar menus in the region with links-themed Top Golf Teas and Golfbags. This particular branch is nowhere near as crowded as other Top Golf locations and there’s a good ambiance if you happen to be there on a weeknight.
• Check out the Premium Outlets in nearby Monroe, easily the best outlet mall in southwest Ohio. The shopping includes Brooks Brothers, Columbia, Coach, Nike, and Adidas.
• Squeeze in a little playtime with games like duckpin bowling, mini golf, or darts at On Par Entertainment, where you can also find 102 beers on tap, a burger menu, and colossal 24-ounce pretzels.