Courtesy MetroParks
Dayton, Ohio
For fantastic city views, beautifully landscaped grounds and a host of recreational options, downtown Dayton’s RiverScape MetroPark is the place to head. Visitors stroll along the Great Miami River among reflective pools, flower-filled hanging baskets and gardens overflowing with annuals, perennials and tropical plants.
“The park offers a wonderful reprieve from an afternoon of urban exploration,” said Beth Miller, marketing director for Five Rivers MetroParks. “People come to take in a concert, check out a festival, ride the paved trails, put in along the river or just hang out.”
Two concession areas bookend the park. Cafe Velo, with patio-only dining, sits near the bike hub that houses lockers and bike rentals. Several paved recreational trails converge at the park and connect the region’s nearly 270 miles of trails.
The Dayton Inventor’s River Walk highlights seven invention stations that celebrate locals who invented the airplane, the cash register and the ice cube tray, among others.
The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights straddles the confluence of the Great Miami and Mad rivers and shoots 2,500 gallons of water per minute toward the center of the river during a show that occurs at 16-minute intervals.
Festivals include the Cityfolk Festival, which features traditional music, dance, art and workshops; the Dayton Celtic Festival; the Dayton African American Cultural Festival; and the Hispanic Heritage Festival. A summer concert series, Saturdays on nonfestival weekends, hosts a variety of genres.
Peoria, Ill.
Peoria’s Old Quarter on the Illinois River bustles with nightly entertainment, Monday through Saturday. Restaurants set up tables on cobblestone Water Street, which is lined with restored brick buildings and outfitted with an outdoor music system. Farther down, the Friday Night Fiesta extends the party with vendors, food and live entertainment.
“This isn’t a beer-truck-at-each-end-of-the-street, rock ’n’ roll party,” said Pat Sullivan, co-owner of Kelleher’s Irish Pub and Eatery. “It’s a place for people to enjoy the riverfront and a variety of entertainment, music and food.”
Spring to fall, the riverfront buzzes with festivals. The Peoria Art Guild’s Fine Art Fair, the community’s largest event, gathers 150 artists from across the nation.
River City Soul Fest celebrates gospel, soul and R&B music performed with the help of local choirs. The Illinois Blues Festival, considered one of the top Midwestern blues events, comprises two days of internationally known blues artists and workshops. The Steamboat Festival features a carnival, a food fair, entertainment and motorcycle stunt shows.
The Erin Feis showcases Irish heritage, from bands and musicians on multiple stages to dance, food and drink. At the Cultural Village, festivalgoers can learn Gaelic, watch an Irish cooking demonstration and hear storytelling.
“Every weekend on the riverfront, there’s something going on,” said Leslie Williams, communications and media relations manager at the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “And on the water, groups enjoy the Spirit of Peoria, a paddle wheeler that takes groups on daylong and overnight trips to Starved Rock State Park and the St. Louis riverfront.”
