The term "Miami Valley" refers to the cities surrounding the Great Miami River. The largest of these cities is Dayton, Ohio. The Miami Valley boasts a rich arts community and an extensive system of trails, metro parks and nature preserves. It's also home to several sports teams and concert arenas, as well as a new upscale shopping district. If cultural events are more your style, there are several nationally recognized museums and a rich assortment of historical sites and attractions.
The Miami Valley has several museums, each exploring a different area of culture or science. The Dayton Art Institute features traveling collections of world renowned artists as well as an impressive permanent collection. Tourists may also enjoy the United States Air Force Base Museum, which chronicles the role of aircraft and the Air Force in our nation's history and features hundreds of planes. The National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center honors the extensive impact on history, culture and innovation that African Americans have contributed to society, while the Peace Museum explores alternatives to conflict throughout our history and the impact peace can have on our world.
Those interested in exploring the Miami Valley's history can view the architecture and enjoy a fine meal in the Historic Dayton Oregon District. The Oregon District is also a popular night spot, featuring several music clubs and restaurants. Carillon Historical Park chronicles the history of the Miami Valley, paying special attention to the role of the Wright brothers. Visitors can see a replica of the original flyer and visit the Wright brothers' bicycle shop. Sunwatch Indian Village is an authentic reproduction of Native American dwellings in the Miami Valley. Walking tours through the village and educational programming are offered daily.
The Miami Valley has a booming theater and arts district featuring a dozen theater and dance companies. Enjoy the Performing Arts at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, which aside from award-winning theater productions also serves as the home of both the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Opera. The Victoria Theater hosts the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the Dayton Ballet, the Human Race Theatre Company and several other ensemble groups. Its several areas, such as the Erving J. Nutter Center, the Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center and the Kettering Fraze Pavilion, offer concerts and other entertainment, year-round. Art lovers can enjoy dozens of galleries in both the downtown Dayton area and the Historic Oregon District.
There are miles and miles of green space in the Miami Valley. Its extensive metro parks offer biking and hiking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor concert stages and even a public market. The area features Clifton Gorge and Glen Hellen nature preserves along the Little Miami River, as well as the expansive John Bryan State Park. Several public farms and community garden spaces, such as Wegerzyn Gardens Metro Park and Cox Arboretum, litter the area. Many visitors and natives alike visit Riverscape, a park in downtown Dayton, which features water fountains for children to play in, paddle boat rides, ice cream stands and a beautiful view of both the city of Dayton and the Great Miami River, with its 400-foot-tall fountains.
The Miami Valley is host to a number of sports teams. It's home to The Dayton Dragons, a minor league baseball team. Sports lovers can also check out the UD Arena or the Erving J Nutter Center for Wright State University and The University of Dayton's sporting events. The Erving J Nutter Center regularly features alternative sporting events such as wrestling and motorcross. The region also hosts its own hockey team, the Dayton Bombers.
The Greene is the Miami Valley's premier shopping location, with miles of outdoor national chain stores and boutiques in a market-style setup. Visitors may also like the smaller, handmade items from the boutiques and galleries in downtown Yellow Springs. Those looking for a more traditional shopping or dining experience can turn to the area's largest mall, the Mall at Fairfield Commons, or the Dayton Mall. Both malls boast a large selection of restaurants on their outskirts. Families may enjoy dining at Magic Castle or Chuck E. Cheese, where kids can play video games and mini-golf in a family-friendly environment.
