24 Hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Summer Edition

Back in April, I traveled to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the first time. During that trip, it was freezing and the brisk temperatures made it difficult to want to be outside. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and I hit the road for a solo three-hour road trip back to Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne is located in the heart of the midwest and is just 160 miles (3 hours) from Detroit!

Chicago: 148 miles
Milwaukee: 251 miles
Grand Rapids: 158 miles
Detroit: 160 miles
Toledo: 104 miles
Cleveland: 197 miles
Columbus: 152 miles
Louisville: 244 miles
Indianapolis: 120 miles

After spending 24 hours in Fort Wayne, I now have a list of the best things to do!

Head to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: With 38 acres of animals, rides and beautifully landscaped grounds, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a must-see destination. Take an African Journey, see the Indonesian Rain Forest, go on an Australian Adventure and visit the Central Zoo. Once you’ve taken a trip through the zoo you will see why Trip Advisor calls the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo the 7th Best Zoo in the U.S. and the 20th Best Zoo in the World!

Enjoy a ride: 
Tokens cost $1 each and are available at machines conveniently located throughout the zoo.
Z.O.&O. Railroad: 2 tokens
Endangered Species Carousel: 2 tokens
Sky Safari Ride: 2 tokens
Crocodile Creek Adventure Ride: 2 tokens

Enjoy an animal experience: 
Tokens cost $1 each and are available at machines located throughout the zoo.
Giraffe Feeding: 1 token
Goat Food: 1 token
Pony Trail: 6 tokens

Get closer to your favorite animals with a Wild Encounter: 
There are five different Wild Encounters that range in price – you can check out my Wild Encounter post here.

Head Downtown for Lunch at Dash-In. The Dash-In offers comfort food at its finest, and I highly recommend getting a grilled cheese sandwich.  If you’re eating on a budget Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island is a great option as well.

Burn Off Lunch as you take an urban exploration around downtown and discover the various murals.

Indulge in a luxury sweet treat at DeBrand Fine Chocolates. DeBrand Fine Chocolates is a luxury chocolatier offering unique chocolates, delicious ice cream and more.

Hit the trails: Whenever I travel, I like to hit the trails to see what kind of adventure the town has to offer. Since I knew Fort Wayne is home to more than 100 miles of trails, I made sure to bring my bike along to explore the city\’s extensive trail network!

Get an even sweeter treat at The Yummi Bunni: The Yummi Bunni is home of the Yummi Bun, and this sweetness overload is one you don’t want to miss. The Yummi Bun begins with a doughnut that has been sliced in half, then comes the topping, followed by your choice of ice cream and the other half of the doughnut (base layer). Instead of creating my own (which would have just consisted of vanilla ice cream with sprinkles) I opted for the Bun of the Week: S’more which featured a glazed bun, fireside graham ice cream and a s’ more’s cereal topping….yum!

Catch a TinCaps Baseball Game: From lawn seats to seats right in the action behind home plate, there really is no bad seat in the house. I went to the TinCaps game on a Friday night, and got to watch the spectacular fireworks display at the end of the game – honestly one of the best fireworks shows I have seen.

Check-in to Hampton Inn Ft. Wayne – Southwest. After a long day of adventuring, I was thrilled to check into my hotel. As soon as I stepped foot in the hotel I received a welcome from the friendly hotel staff. My room had a comfortable and clean king-size bed, and I was able to watch TV or stay connected to their free WiFi as I settled in for the night. In the morning before hitting the road to head home, I went downstairs for Hampton’s free hot breakfast buffet, which included waffles, bagels, oatmeal, toast, turkey sausage, egg white omelet, yogurt, fresh fruit, a unique fresh-squeezed juice bar and more! The hotel also offers a free fitness center and indoor pool.