Weekend Trip to Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is not too far away making it a great option for a weekend getaway.
On our way up to Lake Michigan, we made a pit stop in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We found the city to have a small town charm with hip new revitalizations.
During our visit, we were able to visit the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, attend a TinCaps Baseball game, explore Science Central, walk around the Botanical Conservatory and check out the city’s newly revived Riverfront.
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
The Children’s Zoo should be on every visitor’s attraction list when visiting Fort Wayne. Other families raved to us about the zoo and we quickly understood why. The zoo offers great up close and personal exhibits. Families can feed giraffes, walk along a path with kangaroos, pet stingrays and more.
The zoo also has several rides that take you through and even above the zoo. We rode the Sky Safari high above the African Journey section of the zoo and Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride around the Australian Adventure section of the zoo. These were fun, unique ways to experience the zoo and see some of the animals. The layout of the zoo makes it simple for families to see all of the exhibits. We were able to take our time walking around the zoo, enjoy a lunch there and then experience more of Fort Wayne in the evening.
The TinCaps Baseball games are a favorite in Fort Wayne. The Class A Minor League team is a crowd pleaser with many games selling out. The stadium had a fun atmosphere with the regular ballfield treats and sounds. There is a children’s area for when kids get a little restless between innings. Theme nights during the season add to the fun factor. During our visit, the theme was, “The Office,” which adults and children found hilarious and entertaining. There are several ticket options at affordable prices for visitors.
Science Central
Explore 30,000 square feet of interactive and educational exhibits at Science Central. Between the giant two story slide, water tables, levers, pulley systems and demonstrations throughout the building, families can spend all day here. There are over 200 exhibits and you’ll find yourself looking up, down and all around when visiting this children’s museum. Tickets are as low as $8 and there are several special admission days throughout the year.
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
This is a wonderful botanical garden in downtown Fort Wayne. Our family enjoyed walking through three different gardens covering 25,000 square feet. Each garden showcased different plants and flowers. Waterfalls cascaded, cacti rose above our heads and fish swam around us. Our favorite area was the butterfly exhibit where we entered a tent containing hundreds of beautiful butterflies. There is a small play area indoors for younger children to enjoy and parents to have a rest. Outside, families can enjoy more peaceful surroundings in more gardens. Admission is as low as $1 and worth a stop when visiting Fort Wayne.
Riverfront Promenade Park
Adding to the tourism and entertainment value of Fort Wayne is the brand new Riverfront. There’s something for everyone to do along the city’s three rivers. Kayak rentals, live music, restaurants, boat tours and tabletop games are a few of the fun activities found along the riverbanks. Experience nature along the Parkview Tree Canopy Trail or splash in the Doermer Kids’ Canal. Check out their events calendar as Fort Wayne’s Riverfront is continuing to expand to bring more fun attractions.
There are plenty of ways for families to find something to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The drive from Louisville is around 3.5 hours and Fort Wayne’s location makes it easy for families to continue exploring other nearby cities. Between outdoor fun along rivers or at a baseball stadium to indoor, educational fun with butterflies or science exhibits, families will remember the time they spent in Fort Wayne. Visit Fort Wayne is a great additional resource to help plan your family fun
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