All Posts by this Author

Why do the people of Fort Wayne fuss over a river? Because we have THREE! There’s a ton of history and fun that can be had on these beautiful (and historic!) landmarks.

“The St. Marys River cuts through the southeast section of Allen County, flowing northward, while the St. Joseph River cuts through the northeast section of the county, flowing southward. Both rivers converge roughly in the center of the county to form the Maumee River, which flow northeastward, eventually emptying into Lake Erie.”

Fort Wayne offers celebrations that engulf the history and even today’s adoration with our city’s unique landmark and tourist attraction. Known as the city of “The Three Rivers,” Fort Wayne boasts several great ways to get out and enjoy these local landmarks.

The beautiful St. Joe River cuts through the northeast of the county, flowing southward.

1. Kayak!

Fort Wayne Outfitters:

Fort Wayne Outfitters has a great selection of boats and bikes for your vacationing needs!

2. Walk, Jog, Rollerblade or Hike!

The Rivergreenway Trail along the banks of the St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee Rivers might be the right place for you! Rivergreenway is a “long (24 miles), narrow park with limited access that is ideal for activities such as bicycling, hiking, nature study, jogging, rollerblading or just going for a leisurely walk. The Rivergreenway offers natural vistas and scenic overlooks within an urban environment.”  Check out these great trails.

3. Picnic!

Grab a bite to eat from Cindy’s Diner (authentic 50′s diner), or a tasty lunch from Fort Wayne’s famous Coney Island and head down to Headwaters Park, conveniently located in downtown Fort Wayne where the perfect picnic spot can be enjoyed along the bank of the river!

Can’t decide which one to do? Try them all and have some fun with our three rivers this summer.

As a mom, I have to admit that whenever our family travels more than about 15 miles, we load up our van and all of our gear and it seems to be popping out the windows…and that’s just 15 miles!

No matter how much planning, organization and time we have to prepare for a vacation…there always seems to be the “uh-oh” moment when we arrive. The “oh no, we forgot our socks.” The “what are we going to do now that we don’t have a bathing suit for little Johnny?” The “I am just SURE I packed my little black dress.”

Yep. We have all been there! We can only remember so many things! After all the planning and packing when we take a vacation – who has time to triple check a suitcase? And really, who wants to go spend MORE money on a weekend outfit that we may never need again?

That’s where Fort Wayne’s great consignment stores come into the picture! Fort Wayne is home to many gently-used retail stores that might just pick your vacationing spirits up when caught off-guard.

Browse the amazing teen selection at Plato’s Closet.

Kids Wear
(260) 489-4487
614 E Dupont Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Consignor Boutique Incorporated
(260) 484-6686
3516 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Clothes Mentor
4720 Coldwater Road Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(260) 444-4012

Little Sprouts EveryWear
2326 Hobson Rd
Fort Wayne, IN
260-482-6160

Plato’s Closet
(260) 482-7003 platoscloset.com
4726 Coldwater Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Something Old Something New
(260) 478-6174
2519 Lower Huntington Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46809

…and let us not forgot the awesome-ness of Goodwill locations!

Store Locations

Brooklyn Ave Store
3127 Brooklyn Avenue
Fort Wayne, IN 46809
(260) 478-6346
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Coliseum Corner Store
925 E. Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 482-5744
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Chapel Ridge Store
10540 Maysville Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46835
(260) 748-0294
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Covington Plaza Store
6256 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
(260) 459-3438
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Dupont Village Store
525 E. Dupont Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(260) 338-0202
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Fort Wayne offers many close-to-home vacation must-see spots, so who wants to let a luggage mishap ruin the fun? If you find yourself in a pinch, ready to dive into a hotel pool when you realize you did not remember your suits…time to smile and remember what brought you here! This great diverse city has many consignment shops featuring fashionable attire at an affordable price to help you in a pinch so that you can sit back and relax while enjoying your vacation in the Summit City!

Okay, so sometimes I can argue that my fourth-grader is sneaking up on me with her quick wit and impeccable memory, but is she smarter than a Zoo Keeper? Wow, the absolute challenge!

I may know the animals at the zoo, I can read the plaque at the cage and explain to my children what Hominoidea, Araneide and Carpet Python are, and I think I know why these animals are so rare and amazing. But am I smarter than a Zoo Keeper?

Well, surely I can lead them through the Indonesian Rainforest, where you encounter a domed jungle filled with colorful birds, turtles, and frogs enjoying their tropical paradise — complete with a waterfall. Traveling the easily-accessible jungle paths, enveloped in a world of tropical plants, towering trees, orchids, and more, I am on it!

Kids love to watch the orangutans “hanging out!”

And of course I would never want our kids to miss the orangutans, where they can get nose-to-nose with the big red apes of Indonesia — the endangered Sumatran orangutans.

But no way am I smarter than a Zoo Keeper. I am (on a good day) most definitely smarter than a fourth grader – but there is so much I still don’t know about our great zoo. I actually have no clue how these animals are fed. Does someone stick their hand “in there”? Do those brave Zoo Keepers actually clean “that” up? How on Earth do they get the Sea Lions to perform so many awesome stunts?

Okay I admit it, I am in awe! How DO those Zoo Keepers train, attend to and befriend all of the exotic animals at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo? What does it take to be smarter than a Zoo Keeper?

It’s your (okay…our) chance to find out!

Are You Smarter than a Zoo Keeper Day at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Learn more about the work of a zoo keeper and test your animal knowledge against the pros at activity stations throughout the zoo.  Activities run from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM and are free with zoo admission.

July 20, 2012

Have you ever wondered how those talented employees feel when they are actually “behind the scenes” at the Zoo? What does it look like? How does it feel? How close do they really get?

Get a Backstage Pass!

Now YOU can experience jungle life this summer like you never have before! The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is offering a close-up encounter with their “Backstage Pass,” offered to all of us who have ever wondered.

This behind-the-scences adventure is FREE with regular zoo admission and is sure to delight the young and old with it’s one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience what really happens with all of those incredible animals that we don’t usually get to see.

The Fort Wayne Zoo was voted as “Indiana’s #1 Gotta-Do Summer Attraction” in a contest sponsored by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, so if you want something super wild to add to your summer bucket list, this is a must do! Not only will you be able to spend the day visiting the African Safari, Indonesian Rain Forest exhibit and so much more, you can NOW, on June 28th from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, embrace the reality of zoo life at Indiana’s finest.

The Fort Wayne zoo is open from April 21st – October 14th, 2012 with so many exciting activities for the whole family. Learn more online at www.kidszoo.org!

This summer, your family can create a unique and affordable vacation by “diving into” a memorable vacation at the Fort Wayne Zoo. You might just make a few furry friendships while there!

Sleeping Beauty is a classic fairytale loved by many! This age old tale, involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince has become one of America’s most beloved stories of all time. Perhaps you have read this story to your children? Or maybe your grandmother read it to you as a child? Then of course there’s the Walt Disney version which has been played out on DVD in our home more times than I can count!

Enjoy the magic and romance of this timeless classic.

But what about the ballet? Who wouldn’t love to see a live, authentic representation of this classic brought to you under the dim lighting cascading across a stage of talented dancers and performers? This unique experience can be found at Fort Wayne Ballet. With a rich history of giving back to our lively arts community, they have continued to grow and stage breathtaking productions that inspire and delight!

This happily-ever-after is a must see performance in Fort Wayne!

Performances will be held March 23-25 at the Arts United Center in downtown Fort Wayne. You can order tickets by calling 260-484-9646 or visiting www.fortwayneballet.org.