The Dayton area has several choices to keep your winter fun and interesting
As we descend into the colder months of the year, some may be looking to embrace the cold weather, while others may be looking to batten down. Whichever camp you fall into, the Dayton area has several choices to keep your winter fun and interesting.
Mad River Mountain
Mad River Mountain, located in Zanesfield, offers those in Dayton a chance to take part in winter sports, being just an hour northeast. Offering skiing, snowboarding and tubing, the park has some of the most extensive winter sports offerings in the region. Day passes are available for purchase as well as season tickets. Season ticket holders receive perks such as discounts on food, rentals and lessons. At bubly Tubing Park, which offers two-hour sessions per ticket, people of all experience levels are invited to slide into a good time as well.
MetroParks Ice Rink
Ice skating is also a quintessential winter sport, and Dayton is home to the region’s largest ice-skating rink at the RiverScape Pavilion. Offering skaters views of the Great Miami River, the rink will host numerous events throughout its season. Themed skating events will take place every Friday and the rink will host vendors in December for Christmas shopping. In addition to the special events, the rink will offer food and beverages every day for skaters to enjoy—including alcohol for those over 21.
Catch a show at the Schuster Center
Escape from the cold and see a Broadway show, orchestra performance, opera and more at The Schuster Center downtown. Offering a slate of Christmas shows throughout December, the theater will bring some light to the dull winter weather with shows throughout the new year. Kicking 2025 off with The Motortown All-Stars, highlights of the next year’s winter programming include Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and “Twist and Shout: Music of the Beatles,” among others.
Dorothy Lane Market Cooking Classes
Dorothy Lane Market, the gourmet grocery store, offers those interested a chance to learn a new cozy and comforting recipe for winter nights. In addition to its diverse array of specialty foods, Dorothy Lane Market offers cooking classes multiple nights a week. Featuring many different themes and courses, all levels of expertise are welcome to join in on the classes which range from basic kitchen knowledge to more complex recipes and practices.
Great Wolf Lodge
Those looking to experience some summer fun in the dead of winter can head 45 minutes south to Mason, Ohio, where Great Wolf Lodge is located. With guest rooms available to book, visitors can decide whether they want to visit for just a day or stay overnight. Kept at 84 degrees all year long, the lodge features a 50,000-square-foot indoor water park for guests of all ages. In addition to the indoor water park, Great Wolf Lodge offers multiple restaurant offerings, from pizza to burgers to Dunkin’ Donuts. For those looking for some drier activities, the resort has putt-putt, shopping, bowling and more to offer.
Book an igloo
While the allure of outdoor dining may be to enjoy the warm breeze and sunlight, there are several restaurants in Dayton offering diners a way to dine (almost) al-fresco. Igloos, which gained popularity during the pandemic, has become a mainstay of many restaurants, allowing their guests a chance to enjoy patio dining all 12 months of the year. Whether you’re looking for a full meal, like at The Foundry, or you’re looking to get the latest offering of a regional microbrewery, like at Mudlick Tap House, more and more Dayton restaurants are embracing the igloo to keep winter dining interesting.
