Our fall break is almost here and we are typically a last minute family which makes it good that we have plenty of places close by to visit! This week, we’ll be sharing all about places to visit for fall break and sometimes on a whim. There are so many places that are easy to get to from our location with only a two or three hour drive, but they are great stops for anyone exploring or living in the Midwest. Today we’ll start with Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Last month we were invited by #VisitFortWayne to come and check out some of the great things going on up there and we had an amazing time! Fort Wayne is a place near and dear to my heart, as it’s the place I grew up, got married, and visit often because of family. But so much has changed since I moved away over 10 years ago… and it was really great to come back to visit the Fort in a different light. We filled an entire weekend checking out new parks, museums, and festivals, but here are 5 fun things you should really check out in Fort Wayne this fall break!
*And make sure you’ve checked out our IG and Visit Fort Wayne for fall giveaways!
FORT WAYNE CHILDREN’S ZOO
Named one of the top 7 zoos in the US and top 20 in the world by Trip Advisor, the Fort Wayne Zoo is a MUST DO. Having gone here since I was a kid, it is one my favorite places to take my own kids. With tons of interactive spots and plenty of photo opps, your kids won’t want to leave, and you might not either! Our favorite features are the train and orangutans.
Enjoy a day spent here, taking a log ride, riding ponies, interacting with farm animals, and more…
It really is one of the best zoos I’ve ever been to and I think you’ll agree.
*Zoo hours change as of October 6th 2019 so make sure to check their website before heading out! They do host a Wild Halloween event most weekends in October that tickets are needed for.
BOTANICAL CONSERVATORY
You’re always in season at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. Located in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne, this is maybe one of the easiest Fort Wayne attractions to get to right off the highway! Enjoy the warmth of a greenhouse, walk under waterfalls, and stroll through the desert while here. The kids are sure to enjoy the talking tree, new nature-themed playground, and kids slide!
FORT WAYNE OUTFITTERS & PROMENADE PARK
One of our favorite additions to Fort Wayne is the new Promenade Park. Nestled downtown along the St. Mary’s River, it’s an exciting new feature for the city. With it’s gorgeous walkways, swings, stages, fire pits, water features, and so much more, this is another must do. And it’s also FREE. Test your ping pong or corn hole skills, lounge in an Adirondack while watching them play in the kids canal, or grab a bite to eat (and drink) at Trubble Riverside Cafe + Tap. No matter how you fill your afternoon at Promenade, you’ll be making memories and having a great time!
*Water activities will close at the end of September, but new fall activities will come out!
Then, walk across the old Wells Street Bridge to rent a bike or kayak at Fort Wayne Outfitters. I will say, I’d never been on any waterway via kayak before. The people at Fort Wayne Outfitters really calmed my nerves and were so knowledgeable that I felt more adventurous than normal! Grab a tandem kayak and take a paddle down the river for a different view of the city and a really calming afternoon. This is good for most ages too! We took our three year old and she enjoyed it so much, she fell asleep!
FORT WAYNE MUSEUM OF ART
This weekend, the FWMOA was actually featured {rather quickly} on the CBS Sunday Morning news show for recently featuring an artist they were highlighting, Marlene Rose. While not super large, that makes this museum is actually quite family friendly. One of the exhibits we recently checked out was completely full of glass the kids were entranced by the lights hitting the pieces in just the right way to put rainbows all over the walls.
Follow this up by a quick stop into ArtLink just across the street or a stroll through the streets and alleys to see the public murals on display all over downtown.
SWEETWATER SOUND
via Sweetwater Sound