The One Lincoln Park senior living community is a vibrant member of the greater Dayton area, located in the beautiful suburb of Kettering in Montgomery County, offering luxury independent living for active seniors near local attractions, shopping, restaurants, health care, and more. If you’re planning retirement in 2025, Dayton and Kettering continue to stand out as two of Ohio’s best destinations for senior living. Check out our updated guide to living well during retirement in the Dayton–Kettering area.
History of the Dayton – Kettering area
The settlement history of the area dates to the late 1790s and growth continued at a brisk rate with construction of the Dayton-Cincinnati canal in 1827. A place of innovation, Dayton became home to the National Cash Register Company in 1884, which is credited with helping to break the Enigma machine code during World War II. Among the many inventors who hailed from Dayton are the Wright brothers, Charles F. Kettering and Arthur E. Morgan, inventor of a pioneering pump that was instrumental in the start of modern hydraulic engineering.
The Dayton – Kettering area today
The historic innovation that defined Dayton now fuels a thriving modern economy. With a population of more than 137,000 residents, the area is powered by aerospace, aviation technology, healthcare, and education, making it one of the most livable retirement regions in Ohio. The Dayton–Kettering area is also known for its arts, parks, and wellness-oriented communities, ideal for retirees who value balance, culture, and connection.
In 2025, new city enhancements, park renovations, and expanded senior recreation programs continue to make the region a hub for active retirees.
Destinations
History buffs will love St. Anne’s Hill Historic District, a place that combines the present and the past in a walking tour of different architectural styles spanning almost 200 years. Also historically significant are Sunwatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park an ongoing dig site dating to the 13th century with reconstructed structures, a museum and seasonal events, and Miamisburg Mound Park one of the two largest conical mounds in the eastern U.S. thought to date from 800 B.C. and built in stages by people of the ancient Adena culture. All three are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Festivals
Celebrate spring in May at Spring Fest in the Burg in nearby Miamisburg featuring a parade with floats, live music and dance performances, a maker’s mart, carnival rides, and plenty of food and beverages to enjoy. In Kettering, September means Alter Fest at Archbishop Alter High School with three days of rides, card games, diverse performances, and great food for kids of all ages. Immerse yourself in culture at the Ohio Indigenous Music Festival in June where award-winning Native American musicians and crafters come together. Enjoy live performances, educational workshops, presentations and a community drum circle in a family friendly atmosphere.
Arts
The Dayton Art Institute is home to world-class art spanning the ages and presented in diverse exhibits and collections as well as fun events, programs, concerts and tours. For live local theater at its best the Dayton Theatre Guild offers a full season of fun and thought-provoking plays or try the historic Victoria Theatre for a range of performances from dance to music to comedy to storytelling and more. Learn all about the history of flight at the Wright Brothers National Museum and see original artifacts as well as replicas of important sites from the lives of the Wright brothers. More about modern aviation can be found at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the world’s largest military aviation museum, featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits, more than 350 aerospace vehicles and special exhibits and events year-round. Step back further in time at the Walton House Museum in Centerville which dates to 1838 and is a perfectly preserved slice of life from almost 200 years ago.
Learning
Retirement is a great time to pursue learning for satisfaction as well as fun. At the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Dayton members can take classes, attend lectures and seminars, and join peers for a variety of events.
Enjoying retirement in the Dayton – Kettering area
Restaurants
The Dayton Kettering area has no shortage of restaurants to suit every palate. Casual options include Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen for hearty pastas and pizza, Mode X Tequila Bistro for authentic Mexican and excellent libations, or Meadowlark Restaurant for finely crafted New American and craft cocktails. Fine dining choices include Oakwood Club for exquisite surf and turf in an elegant atmosphere, Club Oceano for amazing fresh and seasonal seafood, or relax and enjoy sophisticated New American cuisine at Coco’s Bistro.
For coffee and casual meetups, stop by EPIC Coffee Shop or Central Perc European Café, or for something stronger enjoy a pint at Eudora Brewing Company or try the tasting room at Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants.
Fresh & local options
Looking to add more fresh fruits and veggies to your diet? Check out the Oakwood Farmers Market from June through mid-October for a variety of fresh produce, gourmet food and arts vendors or year-round try 2nd Street Market in Dayton for a fun day of browsing fresh produce, prepared foods, and home décor items in an historic freight house. Another great option is The Fairborn Farmer’s Market open Wednesday’s May through October with fresh flower arrangements, farm fresh produce, baked goods, honey, herbs and prepared foods.
Fitness & swimming
Staying fit is key to aging well and the Kettering Fitness & Wellness Center offers group classes, personal training and a relaxing whirlpool, sauna and steam room. Dance your way to better health at MVP Dance Fitwith more than 50 classes each week to choose from or make it personal at Absolute Fitness with a large fully-equipped gym and personal trainers on hand. For zero impact exercise, swimming can’t be beat and the YMCA of Greater Dayton-South Branch offers water exercise and aerobics as well as deep water aerobics, aqua Zumba® and SilverSneakers® Splash, and more. Yoga fans will love Exhale Yoga for heated and non-heated classes or Inner Dance Yoga for all levels of yoga in a comforting and communal environment.
Walking Trails & Outdoor Escapes
The Dayton and Kettering area’s climate allows for outdoor activity most of the year. For an easy stroll, the Adirondack Trail at Hills and Dales MetroPark is a 2.1-mile out-and-back trail through woods so it’s great for birdwatching and just enjoying the quiet of nature. Another great choice is Iron Horse Park with an almost 2-mile paved trail through woodlands lush with diverse varieties of oaks, maples and evergreens, or Grant Park offering trails throughout the 189-acre natural area including a 1.1-mile historic trail. Trails vary in difficulty and include uphill trails as well as trails through bottomlands and ridgelines.
Explore the outdoors with ease. The freshly maintained trails for 2025 at Sweet Arrow Reserve and Russ Nature Reserve now feature enhanced signage, thoughtfully placed rest areas, and improved accessibility,making every stroll more enjoyable and comfortable.
If you’re craving deeper immersion in nature, Narrows Reserve, Cox Arboretum, and Dayton Grotto Gardens offer peaceful escapes filled with rejuvenating walks, seasonal blooms, and opportunities for wildlife watching—all perfect for a relaxing afternoon.
Golf enthusiasts can savor time on the fairway at the City of Dayton’s Dales Course, Moraine Country Club, or Walnut Grove Country Club. Each location welcomes seniors with weekday specials, scenic greens, and friendly leagues that make every round feel rewarding.
Get back to nature
For many seniors, the spiritual rewards gained from connecting with nature make for more purposeful days. One of the best is the Narrows Reserve where visitors can walk the six miles of trails, enjoy a quiet canoe or kayak excursion or learn about beekeeping and the many raptors that call the reserve home. Also in Greene County the Russ Nature Reserve offers almost four miles of trails through woods and meadows as well as a tree trail with information about indigenous trees in the area. One more excellent nature is at Sweet Arrow Reserve where seven different trails ranging from 0.5 miles to 1.5 miles wander through meadows, woodlands and prairies offering excellent birdwatching and plenty of flora and fauna to see.
For an educational experience, head over to Cox Arboretum for nature at its best in a serene setting among majestic trees, Smith Memorial Gardens a scaled-down botanical garden featuring nature’s beauty as well as lawn concerts and story hours. Also amazing is the Dayton Grotto Gardens featuring three grottos built around natural springs, 16 beautifully maintained gardens and guides to the history of the grounds that were once home to the Central Branch of the National Home for Disabled Soldiers following the Civil War.
Fishing is another great way to get out in nature and the Miami Bend Park and East River Landing offers a perfect spot to cast off on the Great Miami River. If golf is preferred, try the City of Dayton’s Dales Course for 36 challenging holes, the Moraine Country Club for 18 holes in the Scottish style, or Walnut Grove Country Club for 18 holes nestled in lush woodlands. Each offers great ways to nurture the mind and spirit while also reaping nature’s bounty.
Volunteer opportunities
Research shows that older adults who volunteer live longer, healthier lives. Senior volunteers have lower mortality rates, fewer incidences of depression, and better functional abilities. You can search for opportunities on Volunteer Kettering, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), volunteermatch.org, or contact local charities like Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society or local hospitals.
Religious organizations
Places of worship in the Dayton – Kettering area include:
- Al-Huda Mosque – Islamic Society of Greater Dayton Mosque
- Al-Rahman Mosque – Islamic Society of Greater Dayton Mosque
- Apex Church (non-denominational)
- Ascension Catholic Church
- Awana Keystone Christian Church
- Beth Abraham Synagogue
- Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Christ our Hope Anglican Church
- Church of the Cross United Methodist
- Church of the Incarnation Catholic Church
- Concordia Lutheran Church
- Emmanuel Lutheran Church
- Faith Lutheran Church
- Fairhaven Christian Church
- Five Rivers Christian Church
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
- Hindu Temple of Dayton
- Islamic Center of Dayton Mosque
- Kettering Assembly of God
- Korean United Methodist Church
- Lifepointe Church (non-denominational)
- Lutheran Church of Our Savior
- MANJA PATIO Hindu Temple
- Marshall Road First Church of God
- Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church
- Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church
- Oakwood United Methodist Church
- Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren Protestant Church
- Quan Am Buddhist Temple
- Shroyer Road Baptist Church
- South Dayton Baptist Church
- Southern Hills United Methodist Church
- St. Albert the Great Catholic Church
- St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
- St. George’s Episcopal Church
- St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
- Temple Beth Or-South Dayton Synagogue
- Temple Israel
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- The Gathering Place Baptist Church
- Tinh Quang Buddhist Temple
- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Yellow Springs
- Victory Christian Church
Friendships
Building new social networks during retirement helps seniors reap the mental and spiritual benefits that stem from staying connected with peers as you age. Greater life satisfaction and lower rates of depression are both linked to having close friends. One great option is the Charles I. Lathrem Senior Center in Kettering featuring cards and games, fitness programs, social events and wellness programs, or the Beavercreek Senior Center with arts and exercise classes, educational and health seminars, games and plenty of social fun with friends. Seniors can make new friends and participate in a wide variety of recreational, fitness, and educational programs at each one.
The retirement lifestyle at One Lincoln Park
Dayton and Kettering, Ohio, offer a lifestyle filled with opportunity, comfort, and connection. At One Lincoln Park, residents enjoy independent living that blends luxury with warmth, perfectly positioned near the best of both cities.
Ready to experience it firsthand? Schedule a private or virtual tour today to see what makes One Lincoln Park the premier choice for independent senior living in the Dayton–Kettering area.
At One Lincoln Park, we empower older adults to enhance their health and well-being through vibrant, fulfilling lifestyles that celebrate independence, creativity, and connection. Our dedicated team creates an environment where residents can live their best life, every single day.