A few weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting Fort Wayne Indiana for an overnight trip to see what the city had to offer – and we weren’t disappointed. There is a ton of family fun to be had in Fort Wayne, and I’m going to share the top sites you don’t want to miss on your next visit to the city.
Now I don’t know about you but the first thing on my list when checking out a new city is knowing where to stay. I’m pretty particular about our hotels – cleanliness is at the top of my checklist when reserving a room. When there is a Hilton, I know I’m going to get everything I need and want, so having a Hilton in downtown Fort Wayne was exactly what I needed. If you’ve never slept on a Hilton mattress – or let your head rest on one of their fabulous pillows, you are missing out! I melted right into the mattress and slept like a baby so we were refreshed and ready to go for our adventures the next day. (and I slept alone and yes I used all 4 of those pillows. It was amazing!)
Now staying at the Hilton downtown had more than just the advantage of the comfy beds and gorgeous room – They have a restaurant in-house and wait for it.. a Starbucks! I may have or I may have not gotten my coffee in my pj’s.
In addition to all the amenities in the hotel itself, it’s also located right in the heart of downtown close to a lot of the wonderful thing Fort Wayne has to offer. There are a ton of restaurants to try out – some with a great night life, lots of music and dancing.
We called it early since we had an early morning plan to kayak at the beautiful Riverfront- when the weather is nice, kayaking is one of the most peaceful outdoor activities you can do; especially near the beautiful Fort Wayne Rivergreenway, a trail which is along the banks of where 3 rivers meet right in downtown Fort Wayne at the Water Filtration Plant. The St Joseph, St Mary’s and Maumee all cross paths. It’s a gorgeous 24 mile long trail that you can ride, walk or run on and of course gives the more adventurous types some great time on the water.
Another great family fun experience – and my favorite – is the Fort Wayne’s Children’s Zoo. Now don’t let the name fool you, this zoo is not just for the kids. In fact, my best friend and I had a blast visiting and we will definitely be back with both of our families! I was super surprised at how fun and interactive the zoo is!
There’s 2 really cool things about this zoo. One is, they have the animals separated by country. You can find rhinos and zebras in the African Journey, you can see a reef shark, a dingo and kangaroo in the Australian Adventure,or see a komodo dragon, a gibbon or a crocodile skink at the Indonesian Rain Forest.
Also what is also really cool things about the zoo is the rides. Yup, rides! There is the Z.O.&O Railroad, the Endangered Species Carousel, the Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride and the Sky Safari Ride.
I really loved the Sky Safari- I was able to get sky view of the African Journey area, which houses one of my favorites – ZEBRAS!
The Zoo also offered some delicious food options as well. This is definitely not a zoo where you want to pack your lunch!
And the best part? THEY HAVE DOLE WHIPS! Yes, I’m talking like Disney-Dole Whips. No need to travel to Florida or Cali – you can get them right here in the Midwest, in Indiana! They were so delish, and definitely a nice cool treat on a hot day.
Obviously I am a big fan of the Children’s Zoo. I think the Zoo itself is worth the trip, but there is even more that Ft. Wayne has to offer.
Science Central Science Central is a regional resource that provides inspiring and fun hands-on science education for all people of all ages. Explore 200 permanent hands-on exhibits and national touring exhibitions.
BOTANICAL CONSERVATORY Always in Season: Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory ~ an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden.
FORT WAYNE MUSEUM OF ART American Art Museum offers diverse exhibitions of contemporary and historical art. Activities include tours, lectures, workshops and parties. The Paradigm Gallery has fine art and craft for sale and the Early Learning Center offers hands-on fun for youngsters.
TIN CAPS – MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALLThe Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who are affiliated with the San Diego Padres, and play in the Midwest League. If you’ve never been to a minor league baseball game – you are missing out! Catching a game at the stadium (which is just around the corner from the Hilton) is definitely a wonderful experience. Be sure to check them out if you are ever in town during ball season.
Fort Wayne offers a plethora of fine and casual dining – keep an eye out for another post with all the great foodie stops in Fort Wayne!
