USA Travel Guide

It’s a children’s museum that a parent can love, it’s a nationally accredited zoo, it’s a top downtown Dayton, Ohio attraction, and it has a name you can set your watch by: the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery brings a whole lot of “yes” to the Midwest. Let’s check it out together.

The history of the Boonshoft tendrils all the way back to the 1800’s, when the Dayton Museum of Natural History first began. Actually, the Natural History Museum was the history of the Boonshoft for nearly 100 years, when the idea for a dedicated children’s museum finally crept its way onto the scene

Noting their similar goals, the Dayton Museum of Natural History and this new children’s museum combined from day one to create the Dayton Museum of Discovery. The museum was later named for majority benefactor Oscar Boonshoft.

With no other zoo, aquarium, planetarium or science center in town, the Boonshoft Museum of Discover sets out to do it all and succeeds admirably. Bring along the kids or simply visit yourself for a day of fun and learning at any age.

So what do we like:

• Wild Ohio Zoo – this AZA-accredited “zoo within a museum” is modest in scope, but always a worthwhile visit. While I’m partial to the creepies and crawlies, the two river otters are the most popular exhibit.
• Tidal Pool – if aquatic animals are your bag, the Tidal Pool offers a chance to meet sea stars, sea cucumbers, anemones and more.
• Science on a Sphere – this hi-tech exhibit consists of a large animated globe that is used to display fascinating shows about our planet and solar system. Kind of an IMAX in reverse. See it in action (not from the Boonshoft).
• Mead Tree House – it must be the boy in me, but tree houses are awesome. This artificial tree house is a children-geared exhibit, so if you’ve got the little ones in tow, don’t skip it.

The museum regularly hosts temporary and traveling exhibits. View the current schedule.

The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery in Dayton, Ohio is open daily but for a few holidays, and better yet, it’s way affordable. Only $8.50 for adults and $7.50 for children (2-12). As you can probably guess, the Boonshoft is a popular field trip destination, so I recommend calling ahead and trying to dodge the school groups. Learn more.

Hotels in Dayton, Ohio:
Stay less than 2 miles away at the Ramada Plaza Dayton Hotel. The hotel features a free area shuttle the travels to the museum as well as a kid-friendly Atrium Fun Center for swimming, games and play. A good choice for families in a business-minded city. Learn more about the Ramada Plaza Dayton Hotel.

Have fun!

We’ve featured a few car museums and shows in the past – from Florida to Michigan to the warm coast of California – but you wrangle up some experts and chances are they’ll agree that America’s Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio is one of the best. Car Collector magazine even said so, naming it one of the top ten in the country back in 1998.

We like it, because it’s a settled piece of history. The last Packard was built over 50 years ago now (depending on whether or not you tolerate this), and with each passing year this stunning collection of more than 50 classic sedans only grows in prestige and fascination. Sadly, also, with the American auto industry at one of its lowest points, the Packard Museum is a preservation of an American icon. Some might say one of the most American.

Maybe I’m jumping ahead. America’s Packard Museum is a car museum in Dayton, Ohio dedicated to the Packard line of luxury sedans and automobiles, built from 1899 to 1958. The museum is dedicated both to Packard, the company that the cars, and to the Packard, the series of cars themselves, with more than 50 automobiles from throughout the almost 60-year history.

What history buffs may find even more interesting, however, is the museum itself, located in the original Packard Dealership Building. Built first in 1917, the building has been exquisitely restored, and now a step out onto that iconic Art Deco showroom is like a step back 75 years in time.

Along with the cars, America’s Packard Museum features a respectable gallery of classic Packard artifacts and memorabilia – car ornaments, company papers, advertising, that kind of thing. It’s well worth the walk, but nothing compared those beautiful vehicles, dutifully waxed and polished to a just-off-the-line shine.

If you live in the area, you may even find the time to grab a ride in one. The Packard Museum actually provides transportation service with a few select vehicles. Got an event coming up that necessitates a limo? Surprise everyone by rolling up in a 1930 Packard 740 Open Front Town Car. It’s a perfect ice breaker, and it supports the museum.

Speaking of support, the Packard Museum does rely quite a bit on contributing patrons and charges only $6 admission to visit. We encourage you to check it out, and if you like what they’re doing (we know you will), go ahead and chip in a little more. You’d be supporting a piece of American history.

America’s Packard Museum is open seven days a week, excepting some holidays, and is located at Franklin and Ludlow in Dayton, Ohio. Again, admission is only six bucks. Learn more.

Stay cozy in Dayton, Ohio at the Ramada Plaza Dayton Hotel. We love a hotel that lays on the free – free airport and area shuttle, free Internet, free parking, free business center. All with comfy rooms to boot.

Have fun!

Image by TonytheTiger permitted for use under GFDL v1.2. Learn more.

USA Travel Guide has never been to this attraction, and this post is not based on a tip. This is purely a Google discovery that I just had to mention.

It’s obvious that we need to get back up to Dayton, Ohio. A cool town, anyway, they obviously love some sinister fun with a haunted host of Halloween attractions. They’ve got it all – houses, hay rides, hi-tech – but one new attraction stood out. We’ve seen plenty of haunted theme parks, we’ve even covered one or two, but a haunted water park should be a sight to see.

For the season, Dayton’s popular Splash Moraine water park becomes Slash Moraine, a gloomy walk through a haunted swamp. While not necessarily involving the rides themselves, the water park (at night, no less) sets a groovy, unusual mood perfect for a jump out scare. Despite the family setting, organizers promise some serious spooks. The attraction is not intended for children under 10.

It’s also dirt cheap! Slash Moraine features 10 haunted areas and general adult admission is only seven bucks. Talk about value. Learn (a little bit) more about this attraction here.

This attraction is located at the Splash Moraine water park in Moraine, Ohio, suburb of Dayton, Ohio. Since this is just a quickie, I’ll go with one of our past Dayton hotels to recommend.

Hotel: Holiday Inn Dayton North

Have fun and please, if you check out Slash Moraine, let us know all about it.

Looking for more haunted fun? See our coverage of the top haunted attraction in America.

Here’s something different. The SunWatch Indian Village & Archeological Park in Dayton, Ohio combines culture, history and profound scenery into one rewarding afternoon. Not just another time, this fascinating attraction is like stepping into a whole other world.

From 1971-1988, archeologists conducted major excavation efforts at this 3-acre site south of downtown Dayton. Like the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, the sheer wealth of priceless artifacts and architectural remnants broke the buried history of a people wide open. Here in south Dayton, the people were a Native American culture known as the Fort Ancient.

The SunWatch Indian Village, named for the belief that the Fort Ancient performed rituals involving a solar calendar, is the greatest archeological find concerning the Fort Ancient. Most artifacts discovered both in the original excavation and still today can be dated back to the 13^th century when several Native American peoples are thought to have thrived in the area. The village was a permanent planned settlement, allowing archeologists today to go about rebuilding the village in its original form.

As an attraction, SunWatch Indian Village offers the chance to learn about the life, culture and art of the Fort Ancient as well as get a first-hand lesson in archeology. Excavation is ongoing, so visitors can see the utmost care and caution that goes into the restoration of centuries-old artifacts.

The heart of the experience is the village itself. Several structures more than 800 years old have been reconstructed in their exact original location and may be openly viewed. To enhance the experience, an on-site Interpretive Center features an introductory film and a museum-style gallery of Fort Ancient artifacts.

There’s also plenty to do: archery, craft-making, interpretive tours and authentic Native American sport.

At five bucks per person, the SunWatch Indian Village and Archeological Park competes with just about any museum in value and one-of-a-kind experience. The park is open year-round. Learn more.

If you’re traveling in the Dayton area, our favorite Dayton, Ohio hotel is the Holiday Inn Dayton – North Hotel. It’s a great family place, with a lot of unusual perks for a Holiday Inn. The center Atrium has a great pool area with an attached game room and arcade. Throw in the free Internet and we love it.

Have fun (and learn something while you’re at it)!

We’ve featured several amusement parks and zoos and even fabulous resort destinations lately, but if you head up Ohio way the most popular attraction is nothing of the sort. In the Buckeye State, especially the Dayton area, it’s all about the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the nation’s first, largest and most celebrated aviation museum (and the most attended attraction in all of Ohio).

Housing nearly two-thirds of the United States Air Force Heritage Collection, the gallery of aircraft, ballistics and artifacts on display at this museum is northing short of staggering. The featured 400+ aerospace vehicles are just the highlight of a viewable collection that spans thousands of items, enough to see, in fact, that the USAF recommends a full day to really experience it. How many museums can truly say that?

For flight fans, history buffs, or anyone who can’t help but be impressed by the speedy march of technology, there’s a gallery (or several) just for you. Arranged chronologically, the five main craft galleries will take you from the earliest days of military aircraft to modern technological marvels and even into the future with an awe-inspiriting glimpse at where aviation may be headed next. It’s hard to pick favorites among such esteemed craft, but the 1909 Wright Military Flyer, the very first military aircraft, and the Northrop Black Widow II are must-sees in my book.

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I love town foods. You know, Philadelphia cheesesteaks, Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Memphis barbeque, there’s even a town in Texas that’s famous for kolaches. What better way to get the feel (or should I say “taste”) of a new place than to sample its signature dish? Anyone who practices criminal law will tell you that visual memories are notoriously unreliable, but one sense that you can always depend on is taste. Once you have the first bite, it will be with you forever.

While it may not have the national recognition of those listed above, one dish that definitely belongs on the Pantheon of town foods is Cincinnati Chili.  Miles apart from the dense, earthy notes of the Texas-born chili con carne that is known most the world over simply as “chili”, Cincinnati chili is a thinner, sauce-like stew made with very finely ground beef and an alluring battalion of spices that packs considerable flavor and twang without the tongue-numbing ground and pound of what we think of as traditional chili (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

More than a dish, Cincinnati Chili is an experience. While some full-service restaurants do offer Cincinnati Chili, the best place to get this bowl of Greek soul is at any number of fast food/sit down hybrid restaurants, of which Skyline and Gold Star are the most prevalent. Here’s how it works:

A ”one-way” is a bowl of chili.
A “two-way” is spaghetti topped with chili.
A “three-way” is spaghetti w/ chili and a heaping mound of cheddar cheese.
A “four-way” adds either red kidney beans or onions to the three-way.
A “five-way” adds both.

National burger chain Steak n Shake actually serves a version of this dish, that is spaghetti with chili, but the chili itself is more Texan than Cincinnatian. Alas, this is one of those foods that’s hard to find too far from home, so the next time you’re in the Cincinnati area, do not hesitate to stop in for a bowl (or skip the bowl altogether are get yourself a chili cheese coney).

For Cincinnati hotels, we like the Hilton Cincinnati Airport Hotel. Technically it’s located in Florence, but it’s near the airport and offers a complimentary 24-hour shuttle.

Who doesn’t love Jack Hanna (seen here putting David Letterman in mortal danger)? From Good Morning America to the Late Show to what must have been countless appearances on Nickelodeon, my childhood is filled with happy memories of the nation’s favorite animal expert (pre-Steve Irwin), Jungle Jack Hanna.

Of course, at the time I just thought he was the funny animal dude on TV, and it wasn’t until much later that I realized how profound an effect he had on modern zoo keeping, principally with his work as longtime director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell, Ohio.

From a smallish, under-funded, under-attended city zoo to a zoological institution beloved worldwide and attended by millions yearly, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has come along way to be one of the top American zoos, and the loving care of now director emeritus Jack Hanna had loads to do with it. During his tenure, the prestige and attendance of the Columbus Zoo skyrocketed as he implemented plans to make the place a leading example of modern zoo keeping. Among these plans was the removal of traditional cages in favor of realistic habitats and the installation of sound medicine and breeding practices.

Today the Columbus Zoo has nearly 7,000 animals and 700 species spread out into 8 humongous regions, a collection which includes a number of threatened, endangered and severely endangered species. The African Forest exhibit is especially popular as it is the home of Colo, the world’s first captive born gorilla and the oldest gorilla living in captivity today (she turns 52 this year!).

Although Jack Hanna no longer serves as director, the Columbus Zoo has continued its considerable expansion, today nearing resort proportions. Along with the zoo and aquarium, you can now visit Zoombezi Bay, a water park, Jungle Jack’s Landing, a traditional amusement park, and the 18-hole Safari Golf Club. Learn more here.

For Columbus hotels I like the Embassy Suites Columbus – Dublin. Two-room suites are great for traveling families, arguably the best audience for the zoo, and it’s only five miles out.

When Drew Carey opened his sitcom every week with the fist-pumping war cry “Cleveland Rocks!”, he wasn’t being ironic (at least not entirely). The quintessential Cleveland attraction, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a treat for music fans of all ages, but especially those of “Woodstock” age (and if you were actually sober enough to remember Woodstock, this’ll be even better!).

Often as outrageous as the history it covers, the Rock Hall explores the sordid history of rock and roll music through the people, places and paraphernalia that have long made it one of the Earth’s most stable cultural bridges. We can’t agree on everything, but everybody likes at least some kind of rock and roll.

The numerous permanent and temporary exhibits throughout the hall stand out from your average museum displays for the sense of humor and whimsy they bring to the subject matter. After all, with such over-the-top characters to discuss, how could they not? Along with fascinating exhibits on instruments, technology, clothing and music “scenes” including 90’s Seattle and 60’s Detroit, the central exhibit is the actual Hall of Fame.

Located on the third floor, the Hall of Fame exhibit is a temporary set-up exploring the history and music of the given year’s inductees. Until January 31, 2009, that exhibit will include Leonard Cohen, the Dave Clark Five, Madonna, John Mellencamp and the Ventures. You will also find a wall with the signature of every inductee past and present as well as a virtual jukebox with nearly every song of every inductee available.

Words whispering through the grapevine suggest that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum may be making the move to New York City in the not too distant future, so check out the original while you still can. Learn more.

For Cleveland hotels, consider the Embassy Suites Hotel Cleveland – Rockside. It’s about ten miles out from the museum, but they’re running a Rock Hall package that includes two tickets.

Museum photography used with permission.

Museums that Matter is our nationwide exploration of fascinating museums and cultural attractions.

Humble Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s not at the top of many a traveler’s bucket list, and that is truly a shame, because Cincinnati is home to a full host of world-class restaurants, performance venues, festivals and, notably, museums.

Among the most inspiring Cincinnati museums is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Located in a gorgeous building in downtown Cincinnati, the Freedom Center joins the ranks of Civil Rights and Holocaust museums all over the country as a “museum of conscience”, dedicated not only to the history of its subject but the profound ethical and moral imperatives of its lesson.

The museum primarily details the history of the 19^th-century Underground Railroad. In fact, even in its location the Center does honor to its subject, as Cincinnati was a busy thoroughfare for escaped slaves crossing the Ohio River. The principal artifact of the Freedom Center is the Slave Pen, a two-story log cabin from the early 1800’s that was used to house slaves pre-auction. A disquieting walk through the cabin, while not expressly fun, is something that every American should experience.

Additional exhibits delve deeper into the plight of American slaves while “The Struggle Continues” expands the focus globally to identify how slavery is still practiced today throughout the world.

It is a tough but important lesson, and it makes for an unforgettable day at the museum. Learn more about the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center here.

For Cincinnati hotels in downtown, consider the Embassy Suites Cincinnati – RiverCenter. Although it’s technically in Covington, Kentucky just across the river, it’s less than a mile from the Freedom Center, and right now they’re even offering a package with two adult admissions.