Midwest Traveler: Taking flight in Dayton, Ohio

The history of Dayton, Ohio, is the story of many Midwestern cities. Its industrial heritage is impressively displayed in a place where more patents per capita were once granted than anywhere else in the nation — but the painful history of post-industrialization is not so well cataloged. You see it, however, in depopulated neighborhoods and a downtown pockmarked by empty parking lots. If Dayton didn't host Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, its population, already halved since 1960, may have declined further.

But there is an alternative to just maintaining decline. Dayton's well-preserved cultural and military heritage is worth seeing, but this is also a city regenerated by a creative class and a local government focused on quality of life. Throw in nearby Yellow Springs, a countercultural enclave set in the pastoral Ohio landscape, and you'll see that the Miami Valley, surprisingly and proudly, has something for everyone.

Paul Laurence Dunbar, born in Dayton in 1872 and among the first black American writers to earn worldwide popularity, called his hometown "the brightest gem that has ever decked with beauty dear Ohio's diadem," perhaps the source of Dayton's nickname. His home is preserved as a state memorial (1-937-313-2010). Excerpts from his writing, mostly written in dialect, are displayed throughout and vividly illustrate the African-American experience.

I appreciated the collection of Air Force Ones at the free National Museum of the United States Air Force, where hundreds of aircraft are displayed across four hangars. It's encyclopedic and just shy of overwhelming: I can only imagine what a visit would be like for someone with a layman's understanding. It is indescribably moving to visit alongside so many veterans (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil).

Dayton is also the birthplace of Orville Wright, and at Carillon Historical Park you can see one of the Wright brothers' five known extant bicycles, plus Wilbur Wright's perfectly balanced 1904 spruce propeller (the world's oldest) and the 1905 Wright Flyer III. The docents say it was logical that bicycle-makers invented powered flight because cyclists and pilots both must lean their vehicles into turns. The park's carillon was erected in 1942 and plays beautifully (1-937-293-2841; daytonhistory.org).

The Dayton Visual Arts Center is an intimate gallery hosting 10 contemporary exhibits a year. The works are for sale, but those in the "artomat," a revamped cigarette vending machine that dispenses bite-sized crafts like tiny handmade journals, are more budget-friendly (daytonvisualarts.org).

The Oregon District evaded the wrecking ball and is Dayton's retail and nightlife center. Brim is a hat shop selling cloches, fedoras, church hats and beyond — dressy to casual, mostly U.S.-made (brimonfifth.com). At the bawdy Heart Mercantile, browse barware, funny cards, soaps, candles and funky socks (heartmercantile.com).

The Oregon District's best restaurant is the Corner Kitchen (afinerdiner.com), exclusively supplied by a nearby farm. It's a "finer diner," a place to get a burger and beer as well as a steal of a prix fixe dinner. When I visited, it was quinoa pita salad, a pan-seared scallop and succotash, chicken liver mousse, braised pork pasta, New York strip and butterscotch pudding — all with wine pairings, for $60! At the macabre Toxic Brew Co., try the barrel-aged Night Ender imperial stout that packs a whiskey punch and lots of malt (toxicbrewcompany.com).

Appalachian and Southern black culinary traditions endure. Pepperoni rolls — rods of salami entombed in soft, gloriously grease-soaked Italian bread — are the iconic dish of Guy Fragmin's native West Virginia and on the menu at his 416 Diner in the Oregon District (416diner.com). Downtown, De'Lish Cafe serves comfort food with a Creole influence — owner Jasmine Brown recommends the rib-eye served with cream sauce, shrimp and scallops atop dirty rice with sauteed spinach (delishdayton.com). There's Sunday brunch and live music on Friday nights.

Owner Chris Harrison incorporated New Mexican influences at Table 33: Order carne adovada tacos (pork shoulder slow-roasted in red chile on a homemade corn tortilla) or a truly great breakfast sandwich with bacon, Gouda, tomato-bacon jam and an egg on a croissant. It's also the place for an afternoon craft cocktail (table33dayton.com). Men should wear jackets when eating at the Oakwood Club: The atmosphere — dim lights, a wide array of silverware, wood-paneled walls — compels it. Go old-school with a broiled 21-ounce Porterhouse, escargots, stewed tomatoes and an Old Fashioned (theoakwood­club.com).

I saw both a Volkswagen bus and a combine harvester within five minutes of arriving in Yellow Springs, 20 miles east of Dayton. Founded in 1825 by utopian communitarians, it's the home of Antioch College, known for its service-work requirement and activism (Motto: "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"). The town is a haven for free thinkers, loose screws and nuts. "The weird of the weird live here, and that's OK, because everybody's weird," one blissed-out villager told me.

I can't recommend specific retailers along the two main streets because every store is wonderful — browse for jewelry, pottery, womenswear and eclectic arts and crafts. House of AUM has two indoor yoga studios, one-on-one sessions in astrology and meditation and community acupuncture (whatever that is) every Friday (house-of-aum.com). The nonprofit Little Art Theatre shows classics and first-run independent features, documentaries and shorts (little­art.com). Emporium Wines & Underdog Cafe, the "living room of Yellow Springs," is modeled after the proprietor's favorite restaurant in Spain and has a great espresso bar and hippie fare (emporiumwines.com).

John Bryan State Park features the Clifton Gorge, where the swift Little Miami River cuts deep into bedrock limestone. Well-maintained trails parallel it (parks.ohiodnr.gov/johnbryan). Young's Jersey Dairy is one of the nation's great family roadside attractions: a working dairy with putt-putt golf, a batting cage and changing seasonal attractions. Their ice cream, selection of cheeses and buckeye candies are simply the best. The dairy's Golden Jersey Inn has hallmarks of Lower Midwestern cuisine like beef and noodles. Sweet potato bread comes with every meal (youngsdairy.com).

Dayton is about 700 miles southeast of the Twin Cities, with direct flights from MSP. Dayton's public transit is decent — it's one of five American cities with trolley buses — and there is a small bike-sharing system.

While Dayton lacks a great independent hotel, the Mills Park Hotel in Yellow Springs has great light, a big front porch and 28 rooms, some with balconies (millsparkhotel.com).

Aaron Gettinger (adgettinger.com) is a Chicago-based freelance writer.