Local Dates on a Dime

Date nights don’t have to break the bank! Check out these eight free activities you can do in the Cincinnati and Dayton area:

Food Markets 

With the warmer weather on its way, farmers and food markets in the Cincinnati and Dayton are the perfect place to head out on a date! Markets like Findlay Market and the 2nd Street Market, offer a large variety of vendors that sell items ranging from local produce to homemade goods. Other farmer’s markets and food markets provide a large selection of homegrown fruits, vegetables, flowers, and handcrafted art! While this date could lead to spending a little money, it’s also fun just to take a stroll to see what the vendors have available. 

For a list of markets in the Cincinnati area visit https://365cincinnati.com/farmers-markets-cincinnati/ and for a list of markets around Dayton visit https://www.localharvest.org/dayton-oh/farmers-markets. 

Dog Parks 

While alone time with your significant other is great, having time with your significant other and your pooch is even better! Spend a nice sunny afternoon at the dog park with your great two loves. The local Cincinnati and Dayton areas have various dog parks you can head out to, each with different features! Head on over to one of the free dog parks for a nice and cheap afternoon. In Cincinnati, you can check out the Otto Armleder Dog Park and the Washington Park Dog Park. In Dayton, don’t miss out on the Montgomery County Bark Park and Deeds Dog Park! 

Public Art

Despite common misconceptions, art can be enjoyed in any weather! While it’s warm and sunny outside, take an afternoon with your significant other to head out to see some of Cincinnati and Dayton’s beautiful, inspirational and important public works of art. Check out the list of murals you can see in Cincinnati for free at https://www.artworkscincinnati.org/public-art/murals/all-murals/ and check out a list of public art to see in Dayton at https://www.downtowndayton.org/fast-facts-new-murals-public-art-focus-of-self-guided-walking-tours/. If the weather is crummy, try one of the art museums we have highlighted next!

Free Museums 

There are some wonderful museums in both the Cincinnati and Dayton area! Take advantage of their free admissions for a wonderful inexpensive date night. Check them out below: 

Contemporary Arts Center

Did you know that the Contemporary Arts Center is the first U.S. museum designed by a female architect?! This Cincinnati museum offers three floors of changing exhibits featuring modern art and installations, including the kid-friendly UnMuseum. 

The National Museum of the US Air Force 

The National Museum of the US Air Force is a great place for all military, aircraft and history enthusiasts! Located on Wright-Patterson’s Air Force Base in Fairborn, the museum is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world. You can easily spend an entire day checking this one out.

Cincinnati Art Museum 

The world-class Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the country and houses the largest collections of artwork in Ohio with over 67,000 pieces in its display. Its location in Mt. Adams also offers amazing views of the city.

The William Howard Taft National Historic Site

The William Howard Taft National Historic Site commemorates the only man to serve as President and Chief Justice of the United States, President William Howard Taft. The house that Taft was born in and has been restored to its original appearance. A visit to the site includes a Cincinnati tour of the house and a look into the life and legacy of Taft. 

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center

The Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center is just off of Third Street in Downtown Dayton and teaches you about the life and legacies of the three men who made a massive impact on the world of aviation. This might be a smaller museum, but it’s full of big stories.

21c Hotel 

At 21c Hotel in Cincinnati, you can discover contemporary art in the most unexpected places, from the sidewalks to the elevators. Specially commissioned site-specific works by some of the contemporary art world’s most exciting talent can be found throughout the museum while rotating exhibitions transform the galleries into ever-changing spaces, offering a great reason to visit regularly! 

Weston Art Gallery 

One of the most sought-after exhibition venues in the region, the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Weston Art Gallery is acclaimed for its eclectic mix of emerging and professional artists presented in museum-quality environs in the heart of downtown Cincinnati’s restaurant and theater district. With galleries on two levels and 3,500 square feet of exhibition space, the Weston serves as a staging ground for the most intriguing visual art by local, national and internationally-recognized artists working across all media types.

Local Trails

Lucky for us, Cincinnati and Dayton have some of the best biking trails in the country and are known for having some great places to both hike and bike! Sometimes the best dates can be just with your significant other and nature. Pack a picnic with this Hobby Hunting article to complete the experience: https://www.cetconnect.org/packing-the-perfect-picnic/. To find trails to hike in the Cincinnati area visit https://www.alltrails.com/us/ohio/cincinnati and to find trails to hike in Dayton visit https://www.alltrails.com/us/ohio/dayton. 

Volunteer Opportunities

While enjoying time with your love, give back to others by spending a morning, afternoon, or evening volunteering and giving back to those in need! It will not only give you some good quality time with your date, but also make you both feel like you’re making an impact. View volunteering opportunities in Cincinnati at https://www.volunteermatch.org/search?l=Cincinnati,%20OH,%20USA and opportunities in Dayton at https://www.volunteermatch.org/search?l=Dayton%2C%20OH%2045422. 

Top-Notch Libraries

Libraries can be a great place for a date! You and your significant other can pick out a book for each other to read, a music album to listen to, or a movie for you two to watch. The best part? All you need is a library card! 

Disc Golf 

If you have a frisbee laying around, head out to a local disc golf course to compete against your significant other in a friendly game of disc golf! There are plenty of disc golf courses for you to explore in both the Cincinnati and Dayton areas, so once you do one the next time check out another. Check out places to go disc golfing in Dayton on this Dayton.com article: https://www.dayton.com/places/park/reasons-try-disc-golf-dayton/LrOyTaFKG4ef4GVFOG4q5N/. For a guide on disc golfing in the Cincinnati area, visit https://wandercincinnati.com/2019/08/25/disc-golf-courses-in-cincinnati/.