Visit Englewood Montgomery Ohio and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the charm and culture of Cincinnati! Englewood, a district of Cincinnati, offers many attractions such as the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinati Museum Center at Union Terminal and the beautiful Krohn Conservatory. Enjoy the local speciality Skyline Chili or visit the Newport Aquarium in the neighboring city of Newport (Kentucky).
Englewood landmarks are always starting for me with a short historical piece: Founded in 1840, the town grew out of a small railway station on the Ohio River and has since survived more construction sites than some major cities have changed their fashion. Honestly, the city is a bit like an old family photo – a bit dusty, but with surprisingly clear lines when you look more closely. I usually drive by car over the I‐70, because the bus connections here are more a hobby for nostalgics, but a short trip by bike along the Riverfront lets you enjoy the old brick houses from a different perspective.
If you ask why I moved here, it's on the small but fine corners that no tourist brochure seems to be worthy. The historic city centre, which extends between the old town hall and the church of 1885, has a charm that can only be appreciated with a coffee in the hand and a light cynicism about the “urban progress”. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the new residential quarters, but the small café on Main Street, which I visit every morning, is really great – here there is the best bagel far and wide, and the staff knows your favorite order before you talk it out.
A short trip to the neighboring Englewood Township, located in the neighboring Hamilton County, is worth looking for a bit of nature; the hiking trails there are not spectacular, but they offer a quiet opposite pole to the occasional construction site noises of the city. And while you're there, take a look at the old signs that still tell of the time the railway was the backbone of the region – a perfect spot for an Instagram photo that you can comment later on with an eye-catcher.
I have to admit that my favorite place in Englewood is not the hip café around the corner – that's almost a cliché. Instead, I always start with the English City Hall, a small brick building that looks like someone cut out from a 19-century film. The façade is not exactly Instagram-worthy, but the interior has this charming, slightly cracking wooden floor that reminds you every time you are not in a sterile mall. Parking is usually easy, except on the first Friday of the month when the town hall organizes a citizen forum and suddenly everyone needs a free parking.
A short walk on (I mean, you can do this in five minutes if you don't stop to take photos) Englewood Public Library. I don't quite understand the hype about huge, modern libraries, but here there is a corner with old newspaper archives that you can only find when you fight through a maze of shelves. Last year I found a yellowed copy of the local newspaper from 1923 – a real treasure for anyone who likes a little nostalgia. Parking is a Klacks, because the building is located directly on the main road and the road is hardly driven.
If you want to get some fresh air, that's it. City Park Your goal. The park is not huge, but it has a small lake that is populated in the summer by ducks who stare at you with a view as if you were stealing their breakfast. I once made a picnic with friends and we were overrun by a group of teenagers with loud speakers – a real urban sound mix. The parking spaces are a bit tight, but you always find a place when you are ready to walk a few meters.
A bit of culture then in Englewood Historical Museum. The museum is housed in a former bank building that has more stories to tell than you suspect at first glance. I was there when they just opened an exhibition on the city's railway history – a theme that I never thought was particularly exciting until I saw the old locomotive models and realized that Englewood was once an important hub. The entrance is free, and parking is convenient because the museum is located right next to the town hall.
For those who think that a small place cannot offer culinary highlights, there are the Englewood Farmers Market. Every Saturday morning, the main road turns into a colorful collection of fresh vegetables, homemade cakes and handmade crafts. I tried an apple cake there that was so good that I almost forgot that I was actually looking for a coffee. The market does not have designated parking spaces, but the surrounding residential roads offer enough space when you arrive early enough.
Another jewel I always mention is that English Community Center. The building used to be the high school, and the old classrooms were transformed into gyms and dance studios. I took part in a yoga course where the trainer told more about the city's history when he talked about the Asanas – a bit strange, but somehow fitting. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually free as long as you are not there at the same time as the local basketball team.
Last but not least, if you feel that you need a little green, it's worth a trip to Englewood Golf Course. The place is small but well maintained, and the view of the surrounding fields is surprisingly picturesque. I once made a 9-hole game with a friend who claimed he was a “pro” and in the end I was the only one who put the ball in the hole. Parking is right at the clubhouse, and you can leave your car there while you're upset about your bad fags.
If you now think that all this is a bit too much, let me tell you: Englewood sights have their own, slightly slanted charm that keeps you coming back – whether you are looking for history, nature or a good piece of cake. And the best thing is, you can explore all this at your own pace without a tourist guide ever falling into your word.
The scent of old gasoline is still above the field that was once the birthplace of aviation – the famous Huffman Prairie Flying Field on the edge of Dayton. Here you can see the same gentle hills over which the Wright brothers tested their first engines, and this is somehow more than just a piece of history that you can hold with a selfie. I made a picnic there, while an older gentleman in a defensive pilot helmet declared that the field “is not as wild as 1905” and I had to laugh because I just flew my first drone. Parking is usually easy as long as you don't come to the weekend with the local historians who leave their old cars there.
Just a few miles away Carillon Historical Park, a huge outdoor museum complex that presents the industrial heritage of Ohio in a mixture of original buildings and rebuilt scenes. The highlight is the 151 meter high carillon, which gives a deep groll of itself at every full hour – a sound that reminds me every time that I am not in a shopping center but in a lively history book. I saw the old Wright Flyer III there, and although the inscriptions were a bit faded, the feeling of touching the original was unpaid. A little hint: The entrance is free, but the café at the entrance requires for a cappuccino almost the double that you pay in a normal dayton café.
If you have enough of historic aircraft, the path inevitably leads to National Museum of the United States Air Force on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The museum is huge – you could spend a whole day there and still not see all the exhibits. I was there on a rainy Tuesday, and that was actually a lucky case because the crowds were thin. The collection of jet hunters from the Cold War is impressive, and the interactive flight simulator experience makes you almost forget that you are actually just a tourist. Parking is a children's game because the terrain is designed specifically for visitors, but you shouldn't underestimate the safety control – this sometimes takes longer than the actual exhibition.
For a short nature trip I recommend Five Rivers MetroParks, in particular the Beaver Creek Trail, which leads through dense forests and along the brook of the same name. I spent a few hours with my dog there, and the quiet water plunder was almost meditative. The trail is well marked and there are several free parking spaces at the entrance, but it can be full on sunny Saturdays because the families with picnic blankets are a popular destination there. A small secret tip: The viewpoint over the canyon offers a panoramic view that even impresses the most sceptical city dwellers.
A little urban flair you get in Oregon District of Dayton, a historic district full of restored brick buildings, trendy bars and vintage shops. I spent an evening there when a local jazz club hosted a spontaneous open-mix – that was really great because the atmosphere was so loose that you felt to be part of a small community. The roads are well to explore on foot, and parking in the surrounding garages is usually favorable as long as you don't get too late, because then the meter prices suddenly shoot up.
For shopping fans, Dayton Mall a must, although it is not just a cultural highlight. Located just 15 minutes from Englewood, the mall offers a surprisingly wide range of shops, from well-known brands to small boutiques. I found some vintage T-shirts there that I hadn't discovered anywhere else. The car park is huge, but the signs are sometimes confusing – a short walk through the corridors can easily become a small treasure hunt.
A sporting excursion leads to Dayton Dragons Stadiumwhere the local Minor League baseball team plays. The atmosphere is loose, the beer cheap and the fans friendly. I was there on a Friday night, and the game was not spectacular, but the experience of cheering with the locals and eating hot dogs was a real cultural push. Parking is well organized at the stadium, but you should come a few minutes earlier because the entrance will otherwise be a little mess.
Whether you are looking for the history of aviation, industrial museums, nature trails, urban flair or just a bit of shopping and sports – the environment of Englewood, City of Englewood, Montgomery, Ohio has something to offer for everyone. The mixture of authentic experiences and easily accessible attractions makes the region a underestimated jewel in the Middle West. So next time after Englewood Sights not only should the city itself, but above all keep in mind the diverse range in its surroundings.
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