2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton
Credit: Czerwinski, Allegra (CMG-Dayton)
Credit: Czerwinski, Allegra (CMG-Dayton)
The museum has an indoor zoo, hands-on science experiments and activities, pretend play exhibitions, a tree house perfect for budding nature enthusiasts, a play area for toddlers, an interactive music wall, space theater and much more.
Hours: Monday–Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.(special exhibition hours 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Sunday: noon - 5 p.m., (special exhibition hours noon – 5 p.m.)
Cost: $11.50 for children (3-17), $14.50 for adults, $12.50 for seniors (60 and up) and children under 3 are free. Members are also free.
Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton
The Dayton Art Institute is a destination for all ages, with free events for children and a great art collection for adults. Children's activities include The Lange Family Experiencenter offers hands-on learning activities for ages 3 and up. The museum also has paid events and activities including classes, art camps, ARTventure on the second and fourth Saturday of every month between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Tiny Thursdays every Thursday morning from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15.
Cost: General admission to The Dayton Art Institute's permanent collection:
Adults: $15
Seniors (60+), Active Military & Groups: $10
College Students (18+ with ID): $5
Youth & Children (17 and under): Free
Members: Free
Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
WEDNESDAY 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
THURSDAY 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
FRIDAY 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
SATURDAY 11 a.m. - 5 p.m
SUNDAY Noon - 5 p.m.
U.S. Air Force Museum
1100 Spaatz St., Dayton
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force offers tons of indoor fun, from displays of planes, to flight simulators to a 3D movie theater. They also have scavenger hunts, seek and finds, tours, film screenings, flight simulators and much more.
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In 2020 the museum will stay open until 8 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.
Cost: Free admission. There is a charge for the Air Force Museum Theatre and flight simulators.
INDOOR RECREATION/SWIMMING
Vandalia Recreation Center
1111 Stonequarry Road, Dayton
Indoor aquatic center complete with slides and rock climbing wall among the special features of this recreation center.
Cost: Daily admission is $8 for non-residents and $5 for Vandalia residents. Children under 4 are free with a paid adult.
Hours: Regular facility hours. Call ahead for pool schedule and availability.
Mon-Fri: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun: 12-6 p.m.
Kettering Recreation Center
2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering
Indoor pool with diving boards and ice rink among the special features of this recreation center.
Cost: Membership and drop-in costs and schedules vary by activity. Click here for the aquatics schedule and fees. Click here for ice arena schedule and fees.
Washington Township Recreation Center
895 Miamisburg Centerville Road, Dayton
Indoor pool and climbing wall among the special features of this recreation center.
Cost: Daily walk-in admission is $2.50 for resident youth/seniors, $5 for non-resident youth/seniors, $5 for resident adults and $10 for non-resident adults. Children 2 and younger free. Plenty of other pass options depending on your needs.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (pool opens at 6:30 a.m.). Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Greater Dayton Recreation Center
2021 W. Third St., Dayton
Indoor pool with slide and spray features, gymnasium and more among the activities at this facility.
Hours: Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Cost: For membership and pricing information, call 937-333-4REC (4732)
Lohrey Recreation Center
2366 Glenarm Ave, Dayton
Indoor pool and gymnasium among the features at this recreation center.
Hours: Monday to Friday 5:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Cost: For membership and pricing information, call 937-333-3131.
Northwest Recreation Center
1600 Princeton Drive, Dayton
Indoor pool and gymnasium among the features at this recreation center.
Hours: Monday to Friday 5:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Cost: For membership and pricing info, call Phone: 937-333-3322
>>Try something new at the First Friday of 2020
Run Around Fun Town XL
4401 Lyons Road, Miamisburg
Run Around Fun Town has four themed interactive play rooms, two inflatables, a playground, and much more. Open play is offered for children Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Call for admission (937) 813-4268
533 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. Centerville
Laser Web offers laser tag missions and a laser maze. They also have weekday specials, including BOGO Mondays, Token Tuesdays (Get $5 in game tokens for every $10 purchased) and Laser Web Thursdays where you can play laser tag all day for only $18.
More info: Call for seasonal hours, admission and more information (937) 435-2737
Englewood Fun Center
569 S. Main St., Englewood
The Fun Center has attractions including indoor batting cages, an arcade, and inflatable bouncing.
More info: For hours and cost all (937) 836-2300
125 Clay St., Dayton
Credit: HANDOUT
Credit: HANDOUT
The building was once an abandoned church, but now features one of the best rock-climbing facilities around.
Cost: Day passes are $16 for adults and $14 for children 10 and under, but a belay certification is required for $15 plus any equipment rental that you don't have.
ART STUDIOS
Decoy Art Studio
3491 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek
Offers paint-your-own pottery, canvas painting, art and ceramics classes.
Cost: Pottery painting ranges from $10 to $88. Glass painting ranges from $5 to $30. Wrapped-canvas painting ranges from $16 to $25.
Spark Art Studio
5600 Kentshire Dr. Suite 6, Kettering
This studio offers drop-in art history workshops, art classes and drop-in art classes.
Hours and Cost: Information about class schedules and fees can be found here.
Cozy Melts
2727 Fairfield Commons Dr. Unit W177, Beavercreek
Offers candle making and paint-your-own pottery. Pick up one of their coffee, teas or hot chocolates and get creative.
Cost: There is a $7 studio fee for paint-your-own pottery and prices on the pieces to paint range from $.99 to $30.
Raise Your Brush
169 N. Main St., Centerville and 7 S. Market St., Troy
Barstools & Brushstrokes
Check their website for venues.
LIBRARIES & BOOKSTORES
Most of your local libraries have events and story times for youths and adults with ages as young as 6 months old. Most require advanced registration, but depending on the size of the branch location and the capacity, the library staff will try their best to fit you in. Events are free and supplies are usually provided.
Barnes & Noble
2720 Towne Drive, #200, Beavercreek (Fairfield Mall
Check here for ongoing special events.
Books & Co.
The Greene, 4453 Walnut St., Beavercreek
Every Saturday at 2 p.m. the Books & Company at the Greene has a free children's story time and they have various readings and signings from various adult and young adult authors depending on the date.
2nd & Charles
350 E. Stroop Road, Dayton
This 2nd & Charles location has a weekly free Friday Tabletop Game Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. plus it's a great place to let your geek flag fly and read a book or comic and look at all the old gaming consoles.
Check their Facebook for more events.
Credit: Nedra Rhone
Credit: Nedra Rhone
ROLLER SKATING
Orbit Fun Center
5001 Nebraska Ave., Huber Heights
Skateworld of Kettering
1601 E. David Road, Kettering
Skateworld of Vandalia
333 S. Brown School Road, Vandalia
INDOOR ICE SKATING
2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering
Cost: Youth prices are $3.75 for residents and $7.50 for non-residents and adult prices are $4.25 for residents and $8.50 for non-residents. Skate rentals are $3.
South Metro Sports
10561 Success Lane, Centerville
Open year-round, this facility offers open skate Monday-Saturday public skate and open gym for hockey, basketball and volleyball in the Ice Haus and the Court House.
Cost: Open skate is $7 for youth and $8 for adults with a $2 skate rental.
More information on events: South Metro Sports Website and South Metro Sports Facebook
Hobart Arena
255 Adams St., Troy
Open year-round. Hobart Arena offers open skate, drop-in hockey and indoor fitness walking.
Cost: Open skate is $6 for youth, $6 for adults and $4 for seniors. Skate rentals are $2.50.
Credit: MediaMoments.com
Credit: MediaMoments.com
BOWLING
Beaver-Vu Bowl
1238 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek
Capri Bowling Lanes
2727 S. Dixie Drive, Dayton
Poelking Lanes
1403 Wilmington Ave., Dayton
Woodman Lanes
3200 Woodman Drive, Kettering
Congress Lanes
221 Troy St., Dayton
Poelking Lanes South
8871 Kingsridge Drive, Centerville
Marian Lanes
6170 Brandt Pike, Huber Heights