Round Trip: Ohio
More than simply a stretch of endless cornfields and factories, there are plenty of reasons to believe the Midwest is the Best.
40.4395°N, 84.0402°W
Jackson Center, OH, USA
Flyover Country. The Middle Coast. The Rust Belt. There are plenty of nicknames for the American Midwest, most of which lean hard into the perception that everything here – miles from the nearest saltwater – is boring. While it's true that cornfields and beans fields and flat expanses stretch as far as you can see, that doesn't mean there aren't gems to explore. And at the heart of the American Midwest is the great state of Ohio – literally heart-shaped – where some of the most interesting destinations reside.
Whether you're in Ohio visiting Airstream's Jackson Center production facility and service center, or – yes – just passing through, we've got your guide to getting the most out of the Midwest. We've organized this Round Trip guide into three sections: Best places to eat, best places to get a drink, and great nearby attractions that we love. Each list is assembled in descending order, from closest to Jackson Center to furthest away. As always, double check to ensure locations are open before you set off!
Best Places to Eat
- The Inn Between, Botkins: Home-cooked meals, incredible fried chicken and great selection of craft beer.
- The Sene Grill, Sidney: Traditional Senegalese food with a Caribbean twist.
- Haren's Market, Troy: A small market specializing in local meat, grass-fed beef, and more. Grab a sandwich and eat on the porch, or grab grilling essential to take back for dinner.
- Agave and Rye, Troy: Epic tacos with a whiskey/tequilla bar to boot.
- La Fiesta, Troy: A lontime favorite for Mexican food.
- Sakai Japanese Bistro, Troy: Fresh flavors, a Hibachi grill, and a wide-ranging sushi menu.
- Coldwater Cafe, Tipp City: A fine cuisine restaurant that's been a popular destination for more than 20 years.
- Jollity, Dayton: A relative newcomer, Jollity offers an ecclectic menu of Asia-inspired cuisine.
Best Places to Grab a Drink
Bars and Carry-Out:
- The Heidout, Jackson Center: Hometown bar that's walking distance from the Airstream Terraport
- The Growler Station at Karoc Marathon, Sidney: This gas station offers one of the best craft beer selections in the area, including a dozen growler fill taps.
- Agave and Rye, Troy: 70+ tequilas and 70+ bourbons (and don't forget the tacos!)
- Moeller Brew Barn, Maria Stein & Troy: Hand-crafted beer with great food selection.
- Bodega, Tipp City: A wide variety of wine, along with carry-out dinners and a la carte food options.
- Tender Mercy, Dayton: An underground bar with an ecclectic vibe.
- Century Bar, Dayton: An expansive whiskey menu with a speakeasy feel.
- Warped Wing, Dayton: One of Dayton's most beloved craft breweries.
Coffee:
- Greenhaus Coffee, Sidney: Great coffee with a midcentury vibe, with a small gift and plant store for browsing.
- Winan's, Various locations in Wapakoneta, Troy, and Piqua: A local stalwart of the coffee scene, they have a great factory tour.
- Purebred Coffee, Troy: Bringing together the art and science of coffee.
Best Attractions that Are Worth the Trip
- Armstrong Museum, Wapakoneta: Located in Neil Armstrong's hometown, this small but mighty museum is an ode to Ohio's place in space.
- The Bicycle Museum of America, New Bremen: An impressive collection of early bicycles highlights this local gem.
- Carillon Historical Park, Dayton: 65-acre open-air history museum with many original, historic buildings, and an original Wright Brothers airplane.
- The Neon Movies, Dayton: A fun little art house theatre showing the best new releases.
- US Air Force Museum, Dayton: Rivals the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, with a massive collection of jets, airplanes, and more.
- SunWatch Indian Village, Dayton: A museum and recreation of an 800-year-old American Indian Village that once stood on the same site.
Best Places to Get Outdoors
- Glen Helen, Yellow Springs: This funky little community east of Dayton is a destination in its own right, but take some time to explore "the Glen" – one of Ohio's most beautiful natural landscapes.
- Brukner Nature Center, Troy: Miles of hiking trails, ponds, ridges, and valleys make for excellent outdoor time.
- Hocking Hills, Logan: A bit of a drive from Jackson Center, but you're rewarded with one of the country's most amazing, underappreciated natural areas, with incredible caves and cliffs to hike in, around, and through.
This guide to Jackson Center and the surrounding area was built with the Airstreamer in mind. But you don't have to be an Airstreamer to take advantage of everything Ohio has to offer. Whatever your reason for visiting the Buckeye State, we've got your guide to getting the most out of your stay.
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As Airstream travels the country in search of unique Round Trip destinations, we keep our eye out for dedicated craftspeople who are passionate about manufacturing quality products. Like like the hundreds of production associates who hand-make Airstream travel trailers and touring coaches in our Jackson Center, Ohio manufacturing facility, they are committed to their craft – and to living their dreams. These are their stories.
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