Honestly, if you’re looking for “Northridge Sights”, you’ll get the picture of a sleepy suburb, but I promise you, there’s more story here than you’d suspect at first sight. Northridge was born at the end of the 19th century Century as an agricultural village in the heart of Harrison Township, Montgomery County, and has survived more change since then than some big city kiez. The old railway lines, which once transported the grain from the fields, are today only rusty relics, but they give the place a certain charm that I somehow underestimate.
I usually drive by car over the State Route 48 – a short detour of Dayton, and suddenly the typical center building of the 1950s appears, which I somehow love because it is so honest. If you prefer to take the bus, line 33 can reach the Northridge stop; this is not the fastest option, but you will get a bit of local flair.
A walk through the old village centre leads you past the few, but well-preserved buildings that still show the original layout – a small cemetery, a former municipal house and a few old barns that are now hosting trendy cafes. I don't quite understand the hype about the hip food trucks, but the small bistro next to the old water mill building is really great if you like homemade cakes.
And yes, the “Northridge Sights” are not just a word game – they are a mix of history, light cynicism and a portion of local warmth that you only get when you venture a bit off the highway.
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You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Northridge, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. I spent more time with lazy animals than I want to admit – the animals seem as bored by the visitors as I am from the long snakes at the entrance. Nevertheless, the terrain is a true paradise for plant lovers, and the giraffes eat here almost exclusively the leaves that I can only afford from the supermarket. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole city has decided to visit the zoo at the same time.
A short trip to Cincinnati brings you to American Sign Museum, a place I first discovered because I followed a glowing neon "Open 24/7" sign that lured me from the suburbs to the city centre. The collection of large advertising signs from the 50s to 80s is a feast for the eyes and a bit like a time travel trip to the era in which each business needed a luminous advertising artwork to survive. I don't quite understand the hype about retro design, but here you suddenly feel part of a long past advertising world.
Just a few miles further, right on the banks of the Ohio River, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. I was there because a friend had told me about a special exhibition, and must admit that the emotional anger of the exhibits almost brought me to cry – a rare moment in which I had to leave my usual cynics. The interactive installations are modern, but the real heart is the huge, upwardly projecting model of the ship, which symbolizes the escape routes of the slaves. Who doesn't get a little thoughtful here has never really thought about history.
A little culture? Let's go Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. The imposing Art‐Deco building is not only an architectural gem, but also houses several museums under one roof – from natural history to contemporary art. I spent more hours admiring the old railway models than I want to admit, and this is not just my homely interest in miniature trains. Parking is a children's game here because the center has its own well-signed car park, which is rarely full – a rare comfort in an area that is otherwise plagued by car park chaos.
If you have enough of concrete, the next goal will lead you to the green oasis of the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park. I once discovered a rainbow ornamental mirror that almost made me sell my plants at home and instead buy a ticket for the whole year. The tropical hall is small, but the variety of exotic plants is impressive, and the staff is surprisingly well informed – a small light look in a world where service is often a foreign word.
For those who prefer to sneak outdoors, this is Winton WoodsGreat Parks of Hamilton County is a must. I spent a weekend with my bike there that knew more about the local hiking trails than I knew about my own city. The lakes, the forest paths and the picnic places are perfect for a spontaneous barbecue, and the best: The parking fees are practically non-existent as long as you don't book the luxury camping package that doesn't exist here.
A final tip for those who want to experience the real Ohio: The Little Miami Scenic Trail swells through picturesque villages and along the river, and I discovered it for the first time because my Navi suggested “short route” and I suddenly landed between fields and old barns. The trail is well-developed, ideal for cyclists and hikers, and parking at the access points is usually easy – except when a local festival blocks the road, then you just have to walk a bit further.
Whether you are a fan of wild animals, bright neon lights, deep green history or just fresh air, the environment of Northridge, Harrison Township, Montgomery, Ohio has something to offer for everyone. My personal highlights show that you don't have to drive to the city itself to experience a real piece of Ohio – the Northridge Attractions in the surroundings are as diverse and surprising as the city itself.
I have to confess to you: my favorite place in Northridge is not some hip café, but what the locals lovingly call the old mall. Northridge Mall has been empty for a few years, but this gives her a peculiar charm – a bit like an urban ruin museum, just that you can still read the old food-court motto “Fresh, fast, cheap” on the walls. I once did a spontaneous photoshoot with my friend, because the bright neon light and the orphaned shop windows were just too good for Instagram. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because people still hope there will be a pop-up market here sometime.
A short walk further (and a bit less postapocalyptic) leads you to Northridge Community Center. This is my second favorite destination, because there is really something going on here: a swimming pool that is almost always full in the summer, a fitness room in which you almost lose balance when trying to master the latest Aerobic moves, and a small cafeteria area where you get a “real” coffee – no Latte Art work, but an honest, strongly brewed sip that wakes you up. I remember losing a basketball game there in autumn with a few teenagers because I didn't know the rules, and still felt to be part of a small, slightly chaotic community.
If you're looking for a place where you can move back without leaving the house, look at the Northridge Library on. The library is part of the Dayton Metro Library network and has a surprisingly modern layout that changes between wooden shelves and large windows that allow daylight. I once borrowed a book about local history and randomly discovered a flyer for a Poetry-Slam event – that was the only time I performed in a library loudly, and the audience (a few older ladies) spilled me with applause. This is the real “Northridge Sights” feeling: unpretentious, but full of small surprises.
A short detour to the south brings you to Northridge Park. This is not a huge city park, rather a small green piece with a playground, a few benches and a small pond, which is populated by ducks in the summer. I made a picnic with my sister there in the summer while we tried to turn the grilled sausages without suffocating the fire – a classic family disaster that we are repeating every year. The park is ideal if you want to catch some fresh air without crashing into the traffic of Dayton.
A little further, but still in the same district, Harrison Township Historical Society Museum. The museum is small, but it houses an amazing collection of artifacts from the early settlers, including old tools, photos and even an original school book from the 1920s. I was there on a rainy afternoon and deepened into the history of the region, while I tried to use the old typewriter – the crumbling sound was almost therapeutic. The museum doesn't have a big crowd of visitors, so you can explore the exhibitions without pushing through crowds.
Another highlight that I cannot overlook is that Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park – yes, this is not exactly at the heart of Northridge, but it is just a cat jump away and definitely a must for anyone interested in flying history. I visited the original workshops of the Wright brothers and I felt that the air itself is a bit lighter. The park is well signposted, and the staff is friendly enough to serve you the story in a mix of facts and anecdotes – no joke, that was almost like a mini adventure.
Last but not least a small secret tip: the Riverside Farmers Market near Northridge. The market is not huge, but the stands offer fresh vegetables, homemade jams and occasionally a few handmade works of art. I once tried a local honey that was so sweet that I almost forgot that I was looking for a quick snack. The market is open on Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm, and parking is usually a children's game as long as you are not lucky to come at the same time as the weekly yoga class.
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