I’ve always been lucky enough to have a pool to go to when it was warm and sunny, but every once in a while, it’s nice to switch it up a bit and visit the local pools or spraygrounds.  Don’t you agree that it’s time for a little fun in the sun!

Stay cool in one of Fort Wayne's great pools.

The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department has a few options when it comes to keeping cool on those hot summer days.  North Side Park, McMillen Park and Memorial Park pools all open for the season, starting June 9^th.  I suggest checking the Fort Wayne Parks and Rec’s website for hours of operation and admission fees, as they vary depending on which pool you choose. I love that all of the pools have slides; it’s like having a water park in town without driving out of town and paying the water park prices.

Fort Wayne's seven splash pad spraygrounds are free and full of fun for all ages.

Another great option is the seven spraygrounds located around Fort Wayne. The great thing about them is that they are free of charge and offer hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. I love the spraygrounds because they offer just enough water to cool off, with the option to get soaked if I decide. Spraygrounds are located at Memorial, McCormick, Waynedale, Shoaff, Buckner, Robert E. Meyers parks as well as the newest addition at Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground in Kreager Park.  All spray grounds opened for the season on Memorial Day weekend…and did I mention they are FREE?!?!  Hours of operation, detailed park information and directions are listed on the Parks and Rec website or by clicking the links on the parks listed above.

After being trapped indoors for months, it’s time to bask in the warm summer weather! So, pack up your family (and the sunscreen) and enjoy!

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Ladies, do you enjoy playing tennis or golf? What about supporting a good cause while having fun with your girlfriends?

Then round up a doubles partner or a golf team of four for the Vera Bradley Classic!

Grab a girlfriend and head to the Vera Bradley Classic!

Vera Bradley will be holding its annual Vera Bradley classic on June 1, 2012 – June 4, 2012. This amateur women’s golf and tennis charity tournament is the largest in the country.

The tournament will kick off with a two day women’s doubles tennis competition at Wildwood Racquet Club. One hundred and fifty women will be competing in the tournament playing in various divisions.

Following the conclusion of the tennis tournament, there will be a Tennis Celebration Dinner. The celebration will include a cocktail party, dinner, a featured exhibition match and a silent auction to benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.

The golf tournaments will be held on Monday, June 4^th at the Fort Wayne Country Club and Sycamore Hills Golf Club. There will be a 9-hole and 18-hole tournament that players can choose to play in. Over 400 women will participate in the day.

Monday evening there will be a Golf Celebration Dinner. The night will include a cocktail party, dinner and a silent auction.

If you want to support the Foundation, but are not a tennis player or golfer you can still get involved!  There are opportunities to volunteer at the various events happening throughout the weekend, or you can also pay to attend one of the celebration dinners.

The 2011 Vera Bradley Classic raised $945,185 over the weekend, and since the tournament was established in 1994, it has raised more than $8.2 million dollars for breast cancer research.

 Event Schedule:

Women’s Doubles Tennis Tournament
Friday, June 1, 2012 – Saturday, June 2, 2012
Wildwood Racquet Club
508 North Hadley Road

• Match Play Schedule Depends on Player Rating

Tennis Celebration Dinner
Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 6:30pm
Wildwood Racquet Club
508 North Hadley Road

Women’s 9-Hole Golf Tournament
Monday, June 4, 2012
Fort Wayne Country Club
5521 Covington Road

• Morning Tournament begins at 7:30am
• Afternoon Tournament begins at 12:00pm

Women’s 18-Hole Golf Tournament
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sycamore Hills Golf Club
11836 Covington Road
Assigned Tee Times

Golf Celebration Dinner
Monday, June 4, 2012 at 6:00pm
Sycamore Hills Golf Club
11836 Covington Road

To register your team or learn more, visit www.verabradley.org/classic

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When you think of exciting RV camping locations, does Fort Wayne, Indiana come to mind? It should win a spot near the top of your list, because the things you’ll find to do with your family in Fort Wayne are the stuff of great vacation memories. To help you plan your trip, here are five ideas for creating a Fort Wayne adventure for the whole family:

Chain O’Lakes State Park, located just thirty miles north of Fort Wayne, features eight small fishing lakes and lots of outdoor adventure. You and the kids can hike the trails, canoe the waterways and fish the lakes for bass and bluegill. There’s also a nice campground that makes it easy for RV camping families to settle in for a comfortable stay.

Another delightful spot formed by rolling hills surrounding a tree-lined lake is Ouabache State Park, found about thirty miles south of Fort Wayne. Large and smallmouth bass, crappie and walleye are favorites with fishing fans on the park’s Kunkel Lake. Ride or hike the trails through the pines; this state park is scenic year-round. A large campground gives Fort Wayne area campers a reason to stretch out the vacation.

Like to combine family vacations with a little learning? The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, a lush spot in the heart of Fort Wayne, features both indoor and outdoor gardens for your RV camping crew to explore. The little ones will love the Discovery Gallery, where stories are read by volunteers and the trees can talk! Definitely a fun place to stop for nature-loving families.

And while you’re in Fort Wayne, look to the rivers for hiking and biking opportunities. The three rivers that flow through the city are lined by the Fort Wayne Rivergreenway. Twenty miles of joined trails run near historic sites like Johnny Appleseed’s gravesite and the historic Wells Street Bridge. Learn more and discover the trail right for you here.

One more place to take the kids for a day of history and fun is Historic Fort Wayne, located at the junction of the St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee Rivers. The original fort defended early settlers against tribes of Native Americans friendly to the British military. The replica fort now entertains and educates with re-enactments, special events and permanent exhibits on both early settlers and Native American tribes.

Doesn’t all this sound like the beginning of a memorable vacation? Plan to spend some time RV camping in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It’s an adventure the entire family will enjoy.

About the Author:

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. You can see more great RV vacation ideas in their Monty’s Musings RV Travel Blog and be sure to check out their RV Camping Pictures.

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I moved to town just over one year ago. A job that was too good to pass up lured me away from my hometown and Southern roots. Luckily, the job has exceeded my expectations and so has Fort Wayne. I am a Southern girl, happily transplanted to Northeast Indiana.

Weekends, when you are new in town, can be tough. The combination of not knowing anyone and lots of free time can result in misery. Luckily, it did not take me very long to discover that Fort Wayne has a lot of opportunities to do, learn, and have fun. In fact, a year later, I am still finding new and fun things in Fort Wayne. If you are new to Fort Wayne or if Fort Wayne is your hometown and you want a new perspective, here are two of this newbie’s favorite Fort Wayne things – parks and art.

One great benefit of miles and miles of flat land is that you can create parks. Everywhere. Fort Wayne has parks. Everywhere. Where I am from, the mountains of Southwest Virginia, parks are either located on narrow strips of land by the river or on the tops of mountains where mountain top strip mining has created flat usable land. The benefits of those types of parks is that you either have a nice cool shady place by the river or a beautiful view from the mountain top. But here, there is so much land that you can take an old farmstead and turn it into a working farm for a park or take a swath of land downtown and create a rose garden. Options abound. Fort Wayne’s many parks and recreation areas provide great choices for group or individual fun. If you are looking for a nice place to spend a Saturday morning or afternoon you will never have to look far for a park in Fort Wayne or Allen County.

Salomon Farm Park

Both Foster Park (on the city’s south side) and Salomon Farm Park (to the north) have fantastic walking trails that link to the Fort Wayne trail system and offer beautiful views. You may golf or walk by the river at Foster Park, while at Salomon Farm you can check out the summer farmer’s market or other farming activities that may be available throughout the year.

Lakeside Park and Rose Garden

All Fort Wayne parks are pretty, but none are quite as special as Lakeside Park. In the late spring and summer Lakeside Park’s rose garden comes alive with blooms and the sweet aromas. It is a nice little oasis in the midst of downtown. You can take a stroll through the flowers than sit by the lake and enjoy lunch or just take in the view. On occasion you might even get to witness a wedding in the rose garden!

Headwaters Park in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne is an essential spot for all newcomers. When you arrive in town, check out the Calendar of Events so that you can keep up with all the festivals and events at Headwaters Park. There are fun times to be had all summer long. You won’t want to miss GermanFest or Three Rivers Festival!

The best thing about Fort Wayne parks is that they are filled with Fort Wayne residents, whom you will find to be friendly and kind. This is a great way to get to know your community and have a big time.

It was a surprise to find that Fort Wayne has an active and interesting arts scene.  No, it is not New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago, but interesting art is alive and well. Fort Wayne is home to many talented artists. If you are looking for handcrafted jewelry, sculpture, paintings, or mixed media, it is here. A good place to start is the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. It is lovely.  The Museum hosts Thursday evening events in the gift shop and art openings regularly. Other galleries and festivals thrive in the area, including a monthly event called Last Saturday where local galleries and businesses downtown host art-related events. A must see gallery is The Orchard Gallery located near Covington Plaza. You can find all kinds of treasures at The Orchard. It is worth a visit. Speaking of Covington, the Covington Art Fair in the Covington Plaza on Jefferson Boulevard is an eclectic collection of local, regional, and national artists. It is an awesome local art event. You can find everything from photography, paintings, and sculpture to jewelry made from recycled bowling balls. The arts scene in Fort Wayne is rich with talent, treasure, and interesting and kind people. To find out what is going on with local artists check out Artlink, Arts United, or the Downtown Improvement District calendars.

The best thing about being new in town is the excitement that comes with discovering all the new, fun things to do. In Fort Wayne there is enough to keep that excitement alive for a long time; in my case it is at a year and counting.

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There’s still time to register for Fort Wayne’s inaugural cycling event — the Fort-4-Fitness Spring Cycle — which takes place Saturday, May 26.

The Spring Cycle is set to be the premier cycling event in the Fort Wayne area and comes on the heels of the successful and popular annual Fort-4-Fitness Health Festival in September, which includes a Half-Marathon, 10K, 4-Mile Run/Walk, Kids Marathon and Seniors Marathon.

The event starts at Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne and features a competitive route and a family fun tour of the city. The competitive “Tour de Fort Wayne” offers cyclists distances from 19.7 miles to 35.2 miles to the longest route at 45.25 miles. A casual three-mile family bike ride called Bike the Fort, will follow.

The event will also feature a mascot race, bike rodeo and a pro cycling Twilight Criterium event, a race from late afternoon to evening which features multiple short track, multiple lap, high speed events. Outside of the biking events, there will be fun and activities for the entire family during the day of the event, including food, merchandise vendors, information booths and attendance by local biking club members.

Registration is available online now through May 24, and starts at $20 per individual for the Tour de Fort Wayne. Act now as rates increase May 15. Fort-4-Fitness is a non-profit organization entering its fifth year of events, focusing on the promotion of health and fitness through an active lifestyle.

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