Fort Wayne with Kids | Where to Stay, Play and Eat
For the past few years I've referred to Fort Wayne as the family way capitol of the midwest, and I'k not wrong. With Vera Bradley and Matilda Jane and Peg Perego headquartered in Fort Wayne, this is a very happening place when it comes to family, fashion and the hippest things to practice. There are a lot of reasons to visit, and I'thousand not just referring to the giant Vera Bradley Outlet Sale that takes identify every bound.
Fort Wayne has the feel of a small, tight-knit, caring community with the opportunities and civilities of a big, busting city. The new Promenade Park at the riverfront is going to be a defining moment for the future of Fort Wayne tourism, job evolution, small business offset-ups and entertainment. Fort Wayne, nosotros see you!
Visit Fort Wayne and Indy with Kids have an unpaid relationship, however parts of my visit were gratis. We only work with and write about businesses we love because nosotros know you'll love them also! The opinion of Indy with Kids writers cannot exist bought and all thoughts honestly reflect our experiences.
Where to Stay in Fort Wayne
Traveling with a large family is always hard just we don't allow information technology terminate u.s.a.. Nosotros dearest being close to the action just having a location that provides us with much needed rest later on a day of fun and sun and activity.
Vacation Inn at Purdue Fort Wayne
This hotel offers your typical hotel room with 2 beds simply they likewise have family suites bachelor and I hear they take bunk beds for the kids in a separate expanse! We typically go the value road and squeeze everyone in to ane room and bring along our ain travel crib, but someday soon we won't exist able to do that any longer!
Courtyard by Marriott
We've stayed at this belongings a few times and I love that information technology's right in the center of all of the fun! If y'all aren't lucky enough to exist able to take in the Tin Caps game from the windows in your room, no worries, it's just a few yards from the hotel. With several restaurants on property and many others close-by, y'all won't get hungry.
Where to Play in Fort Wayne
I can't believe how many fun things at that place are to practise in Fort Wayne with kids! From indoor activities to outdoor fun, one weekend isn't plenty to pack information technology all in! That just ways yous'll need to make a few mean solar day trips, stay for a few nights or come back several times.
Fort Wayne Zoo
If y'all hear from a lot of other parents, y'all've probably heard that Fort Wayne has a zoo, and people REALLY love this zoo! The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is a must-practice. There are so many Fort Wayne Zoo fanatics, you've got to get out in that location and see what anybody is raving about! It's totally easy to accomplish a consummate zoo visit in less than a twenty-four hour period, but you lot could stretch information technology out even longer if you wanted to. There are fantastic animals to see, merely the best part is, you can become up close to so many of them! This calendar week, nosotros fed a giraffe and walked on a path through a kangaroo habitat, where these funny looking guys could cross the path at any time! In that location are a few rides that get you a new view of the animals and the zoo loop makes it super piece of cake to see everything without missing anything.
Tin Caps Baseball game
I've always wanted to see Fort Wayne's baseball team in action and information technology finally happened this summertime. Every seat is a bully seat, the kids all had a wonderful time and it was the perfect size for a family unit to walk around and accept it all in. There'due south a child zone with activities for an boosted cost, but in case your petty ones get a little bit antsy, and the field is conveniently located within walking distance (you tin can see the field from your hotel room, and your hotel from the field). With ticket prices ready around $10 each, information technology's a great way to spend the evening.
Science Central
Science Central is the children's museum of Fort Wayne. With pretty much every space available for kids to touch, play and participate in hands on activities, Science Central is ane of those places you lot'll be dragging your child away from considering there'southward just never enough time to practise it all. My kids loved edifice cars and racing them around the slot track. My oldest discovered electricity and friction on their giant, multi-story slide, my middle kids loved the animals in terrariums and my little loved all of the buttons and levers.
Fort Wayne Museum of Art
The Fort Wayne Museum of Fine art was a surprise hit with my seven and 9 year one-time. There were many visually stimulating things to run into and my oldest daughter loved reading about the artist and then looking at all of their piece of work. She was fascinated with the sculptures and really liked walking effectually looking at the photographs. All of my kids liked our visit to the Early Learning Center where nosotros read books about art, drew pictures and wall murals and built our ain sculptures with LEGO bricks.
Fort Wayne Airboat Rides
The riverfront in Fort Wayne is active with wild animals, rushing h2o and boats! Take a scenic boat ride aboard a unique boat! Airboat 1 is piloted past Mike Gasdorf and it's a really fun ride! Tour the surface area, parting from the Gas Business firm restaurant. Airboat rides are available Thursday – Saturday during the summer on a showtime come, beginning served basis. The airboat seats half-dozen at a time. Private charters are likewise available.
Canal River Boat Tour
Take a river tour on the canal river boat, Sweet Breeze. Take a 45 minute or xc infinitesimal ride, narrated by a Friends of the Rivers docent, who will depict the sites you'll see and canal boat history. All tours depart from and return to Headwaters Park West.
Fort Wayne Botanical Gardens & Conservatory
The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Solarium is open up year round for exploration of the gardens. Pace inside a tropical garden, bright with flowers and greenery and then slip in to the Desert Garden to see the 72 different varieties of cacti! In that location are several interactive play areas for children throughout the solarium. Visit late spring to early summer to see the butterflies. They'll flutter past yous and take a rest on you. The Botanical Conservatory offers $i access on the first Th of each calendar month, v p.m. – 8 p.m. On the fourth Saturday of each calendar month, at that place is family garden close-up programming available. These activities are included in the price of your admission.
Public Art and Murals in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is brimming with colorful murals and interesting sculptures. My children love posing with the public art and I really like the fashion the photos in front of the murals turn out!
Sweetwater Music Campus
Until last week, the brand Sweetwater meant nothing to me. Today, I'm in awe of this Fort Wayne business organization that has a local campus that reminds me of the IKEA of the music and recording industry — that's a compliment. Whenever we spend fourth dimension at hotel pools, I tend to talk with other travelers and this fourth dimension I met a family that was staying the weekend in Fort Wayne simply to visit Sweetwater. I added this to my itinerary and I'm so glad I did!
This mega instrument shop is then much more than that! With rooms full of drum kits, my kids were in heaven and tried every single one of them. Nosotros tickled the pianoforte keys on several dozen pianos and strummed the strings on all of the guitars. Then nosotros snooped effectually at the artists in the recording studios, visited the cafe and game area and finally found exactly what my 4 twelvemonth sometime needed to see, the shipping and fulfillment warehouse (who knew?) We watched boxes criss cross the warehouse on conveyor rollers and talked all well-nigh the process of ordering things and having them delivered to your house. Information technology was amazing!
Sweetwater was a huge highlight of our Fort Wayne trip, and I am in awe of this business and their campus.
Taylor's Dream Playground at Kreager Park
Taylor'south Dream Boundless Playground is an award winning playground that was congenital considering a child had a dream that children of all abilities could play together in one space. The playground equipment can be accessed past children in wheelchairs and there are sensory and developmental activities for children of all abilities. This large play expanse includes several play structures, interactive game equipment, a splash pad and several types of swings.
Jungle George'south Bounce Business firm Identify
There's nothing like a few hours running and playing indoors on a rainy day or on a super hot 24-hour interval. Jungle George'south offers free admission for kids to play in their bounce houses! Arcade games and virtual reality are available for a fee. Jungle George's has an all you can consume pizza deal for $5 per person. On specific days of the calendar week, they offering half price menu items and one-half price fees for activities. Only seriously, bounce business firm play is complimentary!
Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre
This classic theatre stage is buzzing with activity! From musical shows to juggling acts, there's always something interesting on the schedule. The Fort Wayne Embassy Theatre has a full calendar of your favorite Broadway shows, y'all may want to book your visit based on when your favorite acts will be in town.
Where to Eat in Fort Wayne
Yummi Bunni Ice Cream (OUT OF BUSINESS)
Yummi Bunni is a child pleaser, and parents volition love it too. With Gluten free and vegan options available, ice cream lovers of all types must visit Yummi Bunni, right adjacent to Coney Isle Hot Dogs. Have your ice cream served up in a cup, a cone or on lath a donut bun! Smother it with your favorite toppings and you have a culinary masterpiece!
Creation House of Pancakes
Cosmos House of Pancakes is the perfect succulent stop for breakfast lovers. Order up local favorites similar the Fort Wayne Skillet or Croissant French Toast, or grab a brusk stack of pancakes with succulent toppings. At that place are two locations in Fort Wayne.
Coney Island Hot Dogs in Fort Wayne
Coney Island is one of those places that you see and think cypher of, just when you have a peek inside and encounter the time capsule that is Coney Island, you take to stop in, footstep up to the counter and try a dog or two. Table service is bachelor at this no frills indoor hot dog stand. If you're feeling actually fun, park behind the building and walk in through the kitchen via the backdoor! This is immune! My kids loved the soda choice (soda is a treat with our crew) and the chili.
Debrand Fine Chocolates
This Fort Wayne essential is a tin can't-miss stop on your itinerary. Y'all'll spend a few bucks more than yous would at DQ, merely it's worth information technology! We permit each kiddo select a unmarried chocolate and and then we shared the sundae. Ohmigosh! Go the raspberry syrup paired with the caramel syrup, this philharmonic has the about amazing flavors with the Debrand chocolate cup and water ice cream. The buffet is pretty picturesque too! And don't forget to check out the Women'south restroom, it'south ambrosial! Debrand offers tours every calendar week, if you're in town, I recommend adding the tour to your listing! Just $5 and it includes samples and a $five voucher at the stop!
Bagel Station in Fort Wayne
A few years ago during a visit to Fort Wayne, I was pregnant and craving bagels. I happened upon the Bagel Station and I was blown away with how delicious their bagels and sandwiches were, how gorgeous their pastries and cakes looked and the perfectly concocted cream cheese mixtures.
Don Hall Restaurants
Don Hall is a brilliant guy with some crawly restaurant concepts. While we were in Fort Wayne, we tried the Gas House and Hall'due south Hollywood Drive-in. Both restaurants offered very similar menus, perhaps even identical but i was overlooking the river with either indoor seating or outdoor deck seating and the bulldoze-in took place in my machine, with a carhop taking our order and bringing our food to the car. My kids had a not bad time at the drive-in!
I only know that there are and then many more things to discover in Fort Wayne, more restaurants to try, more parks to play at and more than adventures to exist had. I can't wait to return after August 9th when they new riverfront park is open up to the public!
Don't forget near visiting the Fort Wayne Santa Train during Christmas and the holidays.
Source: https://indywithkids.com/fort-wayne-with-kids/