While the rest of the country gears up for professional football’s biggest day, we’re offering a tongue-in-cheek celebration of some Superb Owls and Super BOWLS (see what we did?) you can find right here in Dayton! Whether you’re a fan of feathered friends, artistic masterpieces, delicious soups, or even a good old-fashioned bowling match, we’ve got the ultimate Dayton pregame tailgating plan for your Super Bowl Sunday.
Get started on Sunday morning by spotting the Curtiss O-52 Owl at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™! The Curtis O-52 Owl was the last of the U.S. Army Air Corps’ dedicated observation aircraft, ordered in 1940 for stateside military maneuvers. However, when the U.S. entered World War II, the aircraft’s limitations became clear, and it was reassigned to courier duties and coastal submarine patrols instead of front-line combat.
With the shift to more versatile liaison aircraft, the Army retired the "O" designation in favor of "L" for these newer models. The O-52 on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force™ was recovered from the U.S. Federal Reformatory in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1962 and later restored by the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.
Now personally, we think you could spend your entire Sunday just at this museum because, after all, four hangars with 350+ aircraft is truly a lot (and it's FREE)! But, if we’re keeping our subject on Superb Owls at the moment, head on over to Boonshoft Museum of Discovery next! Their Discovery Zoo is home to 2 burrowing owls – one named Joe Burrow! These small but mighty raptors make their homes underground, often taking over tunnels dug by prairie dogs or ground squirrels. Unlike most owls, they are frequently active during the day, using their strong legs to sprint across the ground with surprising agility. If threatened, they perform an adorable head-bobbing motion to assess danger—or even mimic the hiss of a rattlesnake to scare off predators! While you're at the Boonshoft, you might want to firm up your Valentine's Day plans by grabbing tickets to attend Valentine's Under the Stars on February 13 or 14!
After you leave the Boonshoft, it’s just a short trip over to Triangle Park where you can see the Dayton Triangles historic marker! This park… yes, right here in Dayton… is where the very first game of what is now known as the NFL was played! On October 3, 1920, the Dayton Triangles defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0. We’re still secretly hoping for a Dayton Triangles Super Bowl run (do you think they'll make it there before the Cleveland Browns?)! If you have time to stop by Carillon Historical Park, you can even grab some Triangles merch in their gift shop.
Just in case you didn’t see enough owls for the day, be sure to visit Aullwood Audubon or any of our Five Rivers MetroParks to search for owls in their natural habitat! You can also still check out the Centerville-Washington Park District's Spot the Owls Scavenger Hunt.
Now that you’ve seen all the SUPERB owls, are you ready for some Super BOWLS?! The Dayton Art Institute should be the first stop on your list! There are bowls from numerous cultures made from different media types. They even created a video walking through a Super Bowls tour. And, if you’re really into the bowl making process, they have a Native American-Inspired Clay Bowl making lesson plan on their website, so you can celebrate Super BOWLS right from the comfort of your home!
Of course, we know that you’ll get hungry along your trip through Montgomery County, so you’ll want to stop and grab a bite to eat, maybe even a bowl of soup – we call that a SOUPER bowl! Might we suggest Coco’s Bistro, famous for their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque? Or, visit SUPER Subby’s, founded in Dayton in 1978 with an unrelenting dedication to serving the best subs, salads, chili and more. If you're looking for other options, Destination Dayton has a curated restaurants page where everyone is sure to find something to satisfy their taste buds!
Now that your belly is full, are you ready to get back to the fun?! We think it’s the point in your journey where you might want to do a little shopping. So where can you find bowls to buy within Dayton? We’re glad you asked! If you didn’t snag one from the gift shop while you were at the Dayton Art Institute, you might visit a few of the stores within the Oregon District. But don’t just stop there, visit Pink Moon Goods in the Huffman Historic District where everything in the shop contributes to making the world a better place.
How about filling your bowl though, in preparation for the big game? We know there are some of you who have a bowl or dish that is made to specifically hold candy, and it’s no secret that a trip to Dayton cannot be complete without stopping by Esther Price Candies! If you need more convincing than that, check out our latest blog all about the tradition of Dayton’s sweet treat.
Are you tired yet? If you feel like you could still go a few more yards, we encourage you to end your evening with some BOWLing! Feeling a little competitive? Dayton has numerous venues to knock down some pins! You can really get a STRIKE when you pick one of your favorite bowling alleys from our list.
Dayton is a city rich in history, nature, art, and community, and this unique way of celebrating Super Bowl Sunday proves that there’s always something exciting to explore beyond the game. No matter how you spend the day, you’ve experienced some of the best this city has to offer.
So, whether you're rooting for a football team tonight or just reminiscing about your owl-some day, one thing is for sure, Dayton is always a SUPER win!
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Be sure to get your FREE Destination Dayton Visitors Guide and download the FREE Destination Dayton App for more about things to see and do in Dayton. For more information about Destination Dayton and the services it offers, explore our website or call 800-221-8235.
