Honestly, if you think that Ohio has only endless corn fields and boring suburbs, you haven't experienced Moraine yet. The small City of Moraine, nestled in Montgomery County's township of the same name, was born in 1953 from a bunch of agricultural parcels – a relic from the post-war period, which is proud of its roots as a railway station. The city grew thanks to the proximity to the I‐75 and the steady influx of families who wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of Dayton. I don't quite understand the hype about the “suburban oases”, but here you have at least a bit of history that is not suffocated in concrete. When you arrive by car, take the Exit 31 – the sign “Moraine” is the first to tell you you are almost there, and the GPS suddenly makes a short trip to the past.
Now to the Moraine sights I really recommend: The old Town Hall Park is a perfect spot to watch the local life – pensioners who chat about the good old times, and young people who test their playlist loudly. The nearby Moraine Community Center has a gym that has more equipment than an average airport, and the weekly peasant market event is not a joke if you are looking for fresh apples that do not come from the supermarket. And yes, the railway bridge on the Riverside Trail is a photo motif that you should not miss, even though it is hardly noticed by tourists. When you arrive by train, get on the Dayton Book and take the bus 31 – it takes you directly to the heart of the township where you can feel the real Ohio.
With the map tool, you can plan the ideal location for a photo online in advance – taking into account the sun's path and the surroundings.
Here's how it works:
Advantage:
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 Moraine, 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 never miss is that National Museum of the United States Air Force on the Wright-Patterson base. I spent more hours there than I want to admit – not only because the planes are huge, but because the museum somehow conveys the feeling that you are in a huge hangar full of history, while a child calls alongside an F‐16 model according to “Boom!”. Parking is almost always a children's play as long as you don't arrive there on Friday night after a concert; then the field becomes the battlefield of the car park seekers.
A short trip to Dayton leads directly to Carillon Historical Park. There is not only the imposing 151-meter carillon, which gives a little slanted tones of itself at all hour, but also the original Wright-Brothers House, which I visited during a rainy afternoon. I remember how I stabbed in the rain over the old wooden valley and thought that the brothers probably thought of weather conditions rather than comfort – a real “Macher-Spirit” that is still contagious today.
If you have enough of metal and history, it is worth a trip to Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Here, where the Wrights conducted their first experiments according to Kitty Hawk, there is an open field that sounds more like “Wiese for Dreams” than “Museum”. I made a picnic there while a hot air balloon glides over the sky – an image I will never forget because it dives the whole idea of “flying” into a tangible, almost romantic light. Access is free, and parking is usually a short walk from the field.
A little urban flair can be found in Oregon District of Dayton, a neighborhood hidden between historic brick buildings and modern bars. I once spent an evening where I tried a local craft beer in a pub, which is supposed to taste the scent of freshly mowed grass – a joke, but the beer was actually surprisingly refreshing. The road is walking well to explore, and parking is a bit of a gamble because the narrow alleys barely leave space for cars.
For families (or for me when I feel youthful) this is Boonshoft Museum of Discovery A must. I visited the interactive space exhibition with my nephew and wondered why I never became an astronaut, although I have been counting stars since my childhood. The museum offers free parking at the back entrance, which is a real blessing when you are praming.
A little nature needs everyone, and that RiverScape MetroPark in Dayton delivers exactly that. The river that winds through the city is lined with paths that invite you to walk, jogging or just sit. I watched a sunset there, while an older couple spoke quietly about their youth in the background – a moment that reminded me that some things are simply better without Instagram filters. Parking is free at the main entrance, but it can be done on weekends, so it's better to come early.
A last but not less important place is that Dayton Art Institute. I visited an exhibition on contemporary American art there and was surprised at how much humor is in the paintings – almost as if the artists were to make a small side move to the visitors. The building itself is an architectural jewel, and parking in the rear courtyard is almost always free as long as you don't get to the big vernissage on Friday night.
If you ask yourself what you can experience in the area of Moraine, City of Moraine, Montgomery, Ohio, these places are a good start. They show that the region has more to offer than just suburbs – from aviation history to lively art to relaxed river banks. And yes, these are some of my favorites Moraine Attractionsthat I would put to every traveler who has a little adventure and a little cynicism in his luggage.
I have to confess: my favorite place in Moraine is that Moraine Heritage Museum. At first glance, the old railway station building looks like a dusty relic from the history of the railways, but as soon as you open the door, the air crawls with stories that no one dares to tell of the usual tourist brochures. I once saw an exhibition on local agriculture there – no joke, the old photographs of tractors that have more character than some modern SUVs have really made me sneak. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because the weekly artisan market event will begin.
Directly next to the museum, the path to the Moraine City Parkwhere a small lake glistens as if it had a bit too much sun. Here, Jogger, dog owners and one or the other family, who spread their picnic – and all this without the usual crowds that are known in larger cities. I started a spontaneous Frisbee tournament there with a few locals; the result was a bunch of laughing children and a slightly crushed frisbee, but the mood was unpaid. When you arrive by car, there are several free parking spaces, but on Sunday when the local orchestra plays in the pavilion, you may have to run a few blocks.
A short walk leads you to Moraine Public Library. Yes, a library, but not some – here there is a cozy reading café that is better than some hip coffee shop in downtown Dayton. I once found a book about the history of the Ohio mines that I would never have taken into my hand before, and suddenly I sat there, with a cappuccino, and read until evening. The staff knows every regular guest by name, and if you're lucky, you'll even get a tip for the next secret graffiti spot in the park.
If you're looking for something more active, Moraine Community Center That's right. The building is a bit like a Swiss pocket knife: gym, indoor swimming pool, dance classes and even a small indoor velcro area. I took part in a salsa evening there – I was the only one who didn't have the steps, but the others didn't laugh at me, but they showed me a few moves. The Center has a spacious car park that is usually empty, except when the annual “Moraine‐Marathon training” takes place there.
A bit off the hustle and bustle Moraine Skate Park, a small but fine spot for all who like to swirl through the air on four reels. The ramps are not exaggerated, but enough to land some cool tricks. I remember an afternoon when a local youth club held a tournament; the mood was so loose that even an older gentleman who just strolled through the park with his roller shutter, suddenly tried a skateboard – that was a picture for the gods. Parking is a children's game because there is only a small parking space next to the park.
And then there is what I like to call the “heart” of Moraine: the small Main road with its independent shops, cafes and the weekly peasant market. Here you will find the “Moraine Coffee House”, which serves the best espresso far and wide – not a snuck, just a strong snuck that immediately wakes you up. The market on Saturday morning is a festival for the senses: fresh apples, homemade jams and a stand that sells handmade soaps that smell like lavender and something I don't want to name. I don’t understand the hype about the “Moraine-Markt‐Kunst-Installation” completely, but the colorful driving alongside the stands is definitely a highlight.
If you think that's all Moraine has to offer, you don't have the Moraine Attractions in its full width. Each of these places has its own small story, which will only become real when you embark on it – and that is exactly what I love in this city: it is not overloaded with tourist traps, but offers honest, slightly slanted experiences that you only find when you walk a bit away from the exited paths.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
