Going out with your family can quickly become a costly affair. With the price of gas on the rise as well as paying for parking and admission you may feel like you’d rather stay home. You can put your fears to rest. Here are a few local family and budget friendly activities:
The Dayton Art Institute is a beautiful art museum located just outside of downtown Dayton. There is a large permanent collection that you can explore free of charge. The museum hosts traveling exhibits often that you may view for an additional fee. There is a large children’s area on the lower level. The space, called the Experiencenter, helps children to get a better understanding of the exhibits in the museum. There are also gallery hunts and events to engage children’s interest in art. In fact, Child magazine named the Dayton Art Institute in The 10 Best Art Museums for Kids. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am – 4:00pm with extended hours on Thursdays. Free parking is available on-site. Please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org to learn more about the Dayton Art Institute.
The Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark has a collection of five gardens, with the latest addition being the Children’s Discovery Garden. The Children’s Discovery Garden features eleven themed areas including a musical maze, a stream leading to a pond, the sensory garden, a large sandbox and a playhouse. After enjoying all the fun offered there, you can stroll through the other gardens in the park. Don’t forget the boardwalk through the swamp! The Garden is open from 10:00am – 8:00pm April 1 – October 31 and 10:00am – 4:00pm November 1 – March 31. Admission and parking are free.
While we’re on the subject of Metroparks, let’s remember Possum Creek Metropark and Farm. This large metropark features over five miles of color-coded walking trails. Pick up a field guide and try to identify some flowers in the prairie. If you enjoy fishing, you can take advantage of the stocked ponds. Fishing in the metropark is free and doesn’t require a license, although there is a 10″ minimum size on bass and a limit of six fish per day. The farm offers a picnic shelter and small playground. On Saturday and Sunday the Kids Corral allows visitors to pet the friendly farm animals from 1:00pm – 4:00pm. You can visit www.metroparks.org to find out more information about Wegerzyn or Possum Creek Metroparks.
You really haven’t been to Dayton until you’ve visited the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The museum is home to over 400 aerospace vehicles ranging from the Wright Brothers’ humble beginnings to the space program. You will also find many historical items including uniforms, medals, engines and vehicles. You can look through the five galleries at your own leisure or take a guided tour offered at 1:30pm daily with an extra tour Saturday mornings at 10:30am. Admission to the museum is free, but there is an extra charge if you want to enjoy an IMAX movie. The museum is open daily from 9:00am – 5:00pm and has plenty of free parking. Please visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil to learn more.
If you look hard enough, you’ll realize that your adventures don’t have to put a hole in your wallet. Take advantage of the free fun that the Dayton, Ohio area has to offer you!
