In March, we headed to the Dayton area for the weekend after our son’s state tournament relatively closeby. We decided to make a weekend of it since we were due for a trip. In case you missed it, our family has made a goal for 2023 to travel once per month even if it’s just a night away. Last year we spent so much time on house projects that we wanted to spend this year back to doing what we do best & that’s travel. Many of you asked me to share so I will continue doing just that.
After our son’s tournament we headed south to Dayton. The National Museum of the United States Air Force has been on our list for some time so since we were only about two hours away, we figured it was a great way to check it off our list. Dayton is about 3 hours away from Cleveland depending on where you are so the trip is totally doable as a weekend getaway.
We stayed in an AirBnb which is usually our go-to since I prefer having our own house vs sharing walls in a hotel. Our rental was a single family house about 10 minutes away from the museum. If you’d like a link to where we stayed, feel free to contact me HERE.
Our first day was all about The National Museum of the United States Air Force. Here are some things to know:
- This museum is absolutely FREE!
- Open 9-5 daily – get there as early as you can!
- FREE parking!
- The museum is HUGE! I’ve read some people say you need two days here but in my opinion, unless you are very interested in reading every single placard, one day is enough.
If your kiddos love planes, they will feel like they’re in Disneyland here. There is SO MUCH to see, they have over 350 aerospace vehicles with some you can even go inside! Although it says food & drink is prohibited, water bottles are allowed & small snacks packed in a diaper bag/bookbag is fine. There is A LOT of walking so be prepared.
The museum encompassed most of our day but we also did swing by 2nd Street Market in Dayton if you’re interested in browsing local vendors.
The next day, we planned to head home but since Columbus was on the way, we stopped at COSI. We have a membership to Great Lakes Science Center so this is always a fun FREE visit we take advantage any time we are in the area of a science center. If you haven’t been before, COSI is constantly rated one of the best science centers in the nation, it is pretty great! Be sure to stop at their Ocean exhibit, it is amazing!
After Columbus, we also took a “stretch our legs” break at Grandpa’s Cheesebarn, a classic!
Overall, this is a really great weekend trip to take if you’re looking for an easy & affordable getaway with the fam.
