If you’re in town for the NCAA, we know where you’ll be spending Tuesday and/or Wednesday nights.

That still leaves lots of time for discovering Dayton.

Or maybe you live in the area but don’t get the chance to come downtown often.

With Dayton in the national spotlight during March Madness, what better time to showcase what the city has to offer?

We’ve picked the brains of folks in the know and compiled some great suggestions for area restaurants, bars, shopping and entertainment.

ATTRACTIONS

As the birthplace of aviation, our town is best known for the Wright Brothers, which means there are lots of aviation-related attractions to explore. On the top of the list is the National Museum of the United States Air Force, filled with galleries of military history, more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of historical items. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the museum has free admission. It’s located at 1100 Spaatz St. at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. For directions and more information, call (937) 255-3286 or visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/.

If you’re a history buff, visit Carillon Historical Park, just across the river from the University of Dayton arena at 1000 Carillon Blvd. Exhibits at the 65-acre campus include the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, a 1835 B&O (Grasshopper) steam locomotive, the first automobile self-starter and a display of historic cash registers from NCR. The park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-17. Children younger than 3 are free.

Not far away is a tribute to the Wright brothers — The Wright Cycle Company complex. It’s located west of downtown Dayton at 16 S. Williams St. and includes an interpretive center.

Dayton is a city known for many other inventions as well. Learn about some of those at the Inventor’s Walk at Riverscape on Monument Avenue downtown. To learn more about the stations, pick up a brochure at Five Rivers MetroParks, 224 N. St. Clair St. in downtown Dayton or visit www.metroparks.org/Parks/Riverscape/Riverwalk.aspx.

The Dayton Art Institute just across the river, (456 Belmonte Park North), The Neon Movies (130 E. Fifth St. downtown), where independent films are $5 on Tuesdays, and the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC, 118 N. Jefferson St. downtown) featuring work of area artists.

GOOD EATS

NCAA “First Four” basketball fans visiting Dayton for the first time next week have many diverse options for grabbing a bite to eat, from high-quality tavern fare to full-service fine dining in well-established local restaurants, all fairly close to UD Arena.

At the upper end of the dining spectrum, check out these dinner-only destinations:

Jay’s Restaurant, 225 E. Sixth St. in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District, offers a variety of fresh seafood and steaks, along with award-winning wine list and a bar that is as beautiful as it is historic. And it’s been around 36 years. Only open for dinner seven nights a week. Contact: (937) 222-2892 or Jays.com.

The Pine Club, 1926 Brown St., adjacent to UD’s campus, is a slice of Dayton history, celebrating 65 years this year. If you’re looking for steaks and drinks close to UD Arena, here’s your spot. Owner David Hulme says the restaurant is planning to open early for the two days the games are played. Contact: (937) 228-5371 or ThePineClub.com.

For more options, check out the “Fine Dining” page on www.oregonartsdistrict.com for restaurants in the Oregon Historic District, which is within walking distance of downtown Dayton hotels and a few minutes away from UD’s campus.

More casual lunch or dinner options:

Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave. in Dayton’s Oregon Historic District, a quintessential Irish Pub. (937) 224-7822 or DubPub.com.

Jimmie’s Ladder 11, 936 Brown St. near UD, a relocated Jimmie’s Cornerstone Bar with lots of Dayton history and an expanded menu. (937) 424-1784 or Jladder11.com.

Tank’s Bar & Grill, 2033 Wayne Ave. just up the street from UD, a breakfast destination as well as lunch and dinner, open daily 7 a.m. (937) 252-2249 or TanksBarAndGrill.com.

For more options, check out the “Casual Dining” page of www.oregonartsdistrict.com.

— Mark Fisher, Staff Writer

BARS, NIGHTLIFE

Your best bar bets are either near the area surrounding the University of Dayton or in the historic Oregon District on Fifth Street. Some places that made our restaurants list also double as great spots for the late-night crowd.

OREGON DISTRICT

Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St., (937) 938-6405, www.blindbobs.com: Known for it’s pickle soup, stuffed burgers and bourbon cocktails, Bob’s is open every day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. with the kitchen cranking out food ’til 11 p.m. daily. Happy Hour runs Monday through Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. With $2.50 well drinks and 75 cents of Bourbon. Sundays offers $3 Bloody Marys, Mondays is $3 Guinness pints and $1 Mickey’s 16 oz. cans. Wednesday features their “Happier Hour” with $3 cocktails from to 9 p.m. and some serious karaoke starting at 9:30 p.m.

The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., (937) 224-7822, http://dubpub.com/home: Don’t be fooled — this Irish pub can be magically transformed into a sports bar in the time it takes you to blink. A large screen comes down in front of the stage and it’s game on. The authentic Irish cuisine will warm you up just as much as the impressive selection of beers, whiskey and, even cigars. Open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (kitchen closes at 11 p.m.), Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. With a late night menu available and Sundays from 11 a.m. to midnight (kitchen closes at 10 p.m.), this hot spot was recognized for its beer selection in the Best of Dayton People’s Choice Awards.

Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St., (937) 222-6800, www.luckystaproom.com: Sporting eight flat-screen televisions, Lucky’s also is a good spot to take a break and still catch some of the action. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly in addition to sporting many meat options. The chili cheese sweet potato fries smothered in homemade chili are a must-have. There’s a vegetarian/vegan version that is just as good as the real deal. Lucky’s taproom is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on Saturdays with lunch and dinner served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. If you’re here early for the NCAA First Four, stop by Lucky’s on Saturday for a treat. To mark the anniversary of their first year in business, the bar will throw a “tap-handle take over party” featuring a special tapping every two hours starting at noon including beers from Bell’s, Founders, New Holland, Breckenridge, Boulder and Left Hand.

The Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., (937) 461-1101, www.trolleystopdayton.com: This laid-back tavern has an impressive bar menu that has some delicious dishes we find ourselves craving from time to time like the Chicken Black Bean Tortilla soup. The craft beers on tap are always in rotation offering something new and interesting. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

NEAR UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON

Buffalo Wild Wings, 1900 Brown St., (937) 222-WING (9464), www.buffalowildwings.com .

Flanagan’s Pub, 101 E. Stewart St., (937) 228-5776.

Milano’s Atlantic City Subs, 1834 Brown St., (937) 222-7072, www.milanossubs.com.

— Alexis Larsen, contributing writer