Northwest - Dayton, OH

Dayton was founded in 1796 by a small group of settlers who arrived from Cincinnati by boat via the Great Miami River. A year later, the Mad River Road was built to connect the settlement to Cincinnati allowing for more settlers to begin their journey north. Dayton was incorporated in 1805 and by the late 1800s was home to many inventors and engineers, including the Wright Brothers. In the mid-20th century, Dayton saw rapid growth, as did surrounding suburbs like Englewood, which was founded in 1841 as an agricultural community.

Northwest Dayton provides residents many choices in arts and culture. The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center provides a home to the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera and the Dayton Philharmonic orchestra. The Dayton Institute of Art features an impressive permanent collection and hosts an annual Oktoberfest to showcase local art and food.

A number of great restaurants and bars lie to the north of Interstate 70 in Englewood. Here you can find Ozu852. This Asian restaurant features both a Chinese and Japanese menu for choices of beef or shrimp chow mein, moo goo gai pan, plenty of sushi roll options and dishes prepared on a hibachi grill.

Tony's Italian Kitchen serves fresh Italian food fast with classics of veal parmigiana, spaghetti and shrimp marinara. Even when residents move out of the area, they keep coming back to eat at Tony's.

One of the more popular Mexican resturants in the north suburbs, El Cazador Mexican Restaurant & Cantina features flavorful options such as polo toluca — grilled and flattened chicken breast topped with chorizo — and the shrimp delight — deep-fried shrimp with lettuce, rice and pico de gallo. Go in on a Sunday for discount margaritas.

For a night out that doesn't break your wallet, locals head to Humpty's Bar & Grill where you can sing karaoke, play trivia and enjoy daily specials on drinks and great bar food. Thunderbowl Lanes provides even more options for fun in the area. Residents keeps coming back for the great music, a special "glow bowl" on weekend nights, pool and pizza. To watch sports or catch a local live band, residents head to Stubbies Sports Bar & Grill.

Residents find Dayton to be a bike-friendly city with designated bike lanes and a large network of connected trails. Most bike lanes are located downtown, but both biking and walking around the Northwest neighborhood provide safe options. Residents in the neighborhood rely primarily on their cars for transportation, and free public parking options exist throughout residential streets.

Uber ride sharing provides a transportation option in Dayton, as does regular cab service. Calling for a taxi in the Northwest neighborhood yields better results than trying to flag one down on the street. The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority runs many public bus routes throughout the area. The RTA also runs several electric trolley routes.

Interstate 70 runs through the Northwest area allowing for travel west towards Indianapolis and east towards the state capital of Columbus. Highway 35 can be used to make a connection to I-75 for travel south to Cincinnati and north to Toledo.

Residents can take advantage of all the opportunities for outdoor fun at Sycamore State Park. With options for fishing, hiking and horseback riding, this 2,000+ acre park offers something for everyone, even if you just want to have a simple picnic. Leashed dogs are allowed in Sycamore Park and all state parks, except for beaches unless otherwise designated. The 16-mile asphalt path of the Wolf Creek Trail passes through the park and can be used for hiking, biking or rollerblading exercise and cross-country skiing in the winter. Englewood MetroPark has nearly 2,000 acres of free public park space for nature walks or games of disc golf.

The Midwest Outdoor Experience, held in October in Eastwood MetroPark, offers the chance for residents to engage in healthy competitions of fishing, running and biking. For relaxation, eat and listen to live music as you peruse the wares of vendors selling outdoor gear, food and beer.

The cost of living in the Northwest neighborhood falls in line with the city average, which lies below both the state and national average. A bottle of domestic beer at a local bar or club costs about $3, with a bottle of imported beer priced at about $5. Gas prices sit about 3 percent higher than the national average. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $495 per month. A trip downtown on an RTA bus costs $1.75 for adults and $.85 for children, seniors and the disabled. Daily, weekly and monthly passes provide discounted rates.

While there may not be a single concentration of shops in the Northwest Dayton area, several stores sit within a short drive. Big-box retailers such as J.C. Penney, Lane Bryant and Macy's reside in Dayton, along with a number of smaller boutiques.

F&S School Supply has been the source for educational materials, books and supplies for more than 40 years. Take advantage of the store's frequent buyer program to receive discounts. Whether you shop for your grandchildren, scout troop or an entire classroom, F&S School Supply has everything you need to enlighten a child's mind.

Dayton Nutra Foods provides vitamins, herbs, supplements and aromatherapy essential oils. This shop has been going strong for more than 50 years in the Dayton area thanks to fantastic selections and great customer service. Ask for a free sample before you buy.

Residents in the Northwest area of Dayton have several options for groceries, including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Meijer. Landes Fresh Meats features great meats, along with deli items, pies and baked goods. The 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton provides a year-round farmers market featuring the best produce, bread, cheese, flowers and handmade goods from area vendors.