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.
Weekend Forecast: TinCaps Baseball
Food
The food selection at Parkview Field is filled with a wide variety of options. You can enjoy anything from chicken sandwiches and funnel cake to TinCaps salads, veggies and hummus, vegetarian black bean burgers or a peanut butter and jelly kids meal. Of course they also have the classics like nachos and hot dogs, if that is more your style. Parkview Field definitely plays on the apple theme and even has an Apple Cart concession stand that is jam packed with fresh apples, apple dumplings, caramel apples and more! With such an amazing lineup of food, there\’s sure to be something for everyone.
Tickets
Opening day usually brings in upwards of 6,727 fans, and the stadium is sometimes sold-out. However, I was told that they never turn people away, and will find seating for fans who walk up and buy a ticket right before the game – how nice is that? Ticket prices are low, with lawn seats starting at under $10. Stick around Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to see an incredible firework show. Every home game is fun:
Sundays: Postgame Autographs presented by Subway
Mondays: US Foods Family Feast Nights ($1 food deals)
Thursdays: Thirsty Thursdays™ presented by Rudy\’s Shop ($1 beer & other drink specials)
Fridays: Theme Nights
Saturdays: National Entertainment Acts
All Games: Run the Bases presented by Trine University Fort Wayne
Fireworks
The TinCaps are spending the 2019 season leading the way in Minor League Baseball with 30, yes you read that correctly 30 Postgame Fireworks Nights. See the fireworks schedule below:
Thursday, July 4 presented by the City of Fort Wayne
Friday, July 5
Thursday, July 18
Friday, July 19
Saturday, July 20 presented by the Three Rivers Festival
Monday, July 22 presented by Lutheran Services
Saturday, July 27 presented by Basement Doctor
Monday, July 29
Saturday, Aug. 3
Monday, Aug. 5
Thursday, Aug. 8
Friday, Aug. 9
Saturday, Aug. 17
Thursday, Aug. 29
Friday, Aug. 30
Saturday, Aug. 31
Sunday, Sept. 1
Theme Nights
The TinCaps 70-game regular season home schedule runs through Labor Day (September 2), and is filled with plenty of great theme nights. I was there for the absolutely hilarious The Office Night, where TinCaps players traded in their traditional uniforms for fun yellow ones that featured a tie. Check out what theme nights Parkview Field has coming up below:
Star Wars Night (Friday, July 5)
Christmas in July (Friday, July 19)*
Princess Night (Monday, July 29)*
Superhero Night (Monday, Aug. 5)*
Harry Potter Night (Friday, Aug. 9)*
Military Appreciation Night presented by OmniSource & Steel Dynamics (Monday, Aug. 19)
Fan\’s Choice Night (Friday, Aug. 30)*
Restaurant Review: Vinsetta Garage
What I Wore, Ate and Did this Fourth of July
I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July! Growing up in Michigan you quickly learn that the Fourth of July is meant to be spent up north – preferably on the lake. However, this year things didn’t pan out that way for me. I ended up spending the Fourth in the city, and let me tell you I loved the ghost town. While my weekend wasn’t filled with days splashing through one of the Great Lakes and eating Superman ice cream, they were filled with bike rides, good food and plenty of quality time with Jack. Scroll through the pictures below to get a glimpse at my holiday weekend, and don’t forget to leave a comment and share what you were up to.
There’s a baby camel at the Detroit Zoo and she is ready to meet you. On Wednesday, March 27 the proud parents Suren and Rusty welcomed their baby girl Tula to the Detroit Zoo. This calf joins siblings Humphrey (4) and Rusi (who turns 2 in July). Did you know that a newborn calf is able to stand and walk alongside its mother in as little as 30 minutes of birth? When Tula was born she weighed in at 128 pounds and stood more than 4 feet tall. Contrary to popular belief, camels store fat – not water – in their humps, which provides energy when food is limited. If you love baby animals as much as I do, now is the perfect time to visit the Detroit Zoo and see Tula for yourself.
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory: Butterfly Exhibit
Surround yourself with butterflies in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne through July 7, 2019. The annual Butterfly Exhibit at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is something you won’t want to miss! From April 27 – July 7, 2019 the big white tent has been home to these gorgeous fluttering insects.
Here are some tips for getting the most out of your Butterfly Exhibit experience
1. Have your camera ready, because chances are you’ll have a butterfly land on you.
2. Bright colors and strong perfumes will get the butterflies to hang out with you longer.
3. There are individuals who will let you inside and do a quick check when you leave to make sure no butterflies run away.
4. Butterflies are most active in heat, therefore you’ll want to make sure you’re paying attention to how you feel when you’re inside the tent.
5. Strollers are asked to be left outside of the tent, however, scooters, walkers and other mobility aids are welcome inside.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Botanical Conservatory after the butterfly exhibit. One room provides a soothing vibe with it’s tropical plants and waterfall, while another is filled with cactus to make you feel like you are right in the heart of the desert.
Fashion meets Food 