Whether you’re considering relocating to Fort Wayne, or you’re visiting and want to get to know the city a little better, a driving tour can be a great way to see all of our great city. We’ve put together a Fort Wayne drive-about guide to seeing the sites through your windshield.

Welcome to Fort Wayne!

FWA

Your flight has landed and you’re ready to be on your way, but before you leave, check out the Greater Fort Wayne Aviation Museum located in the terminal, at the top of the escalators. Aviation history buffs will find historic details of the hold Baer Field and local aviation heroes. Admission is free. Be sure to take the cookie they’ll offer you as you leave the terminal – it’s a deliciously sweet way to be welcomed to our city and it’s made right across the street. Military history buffs will also enjoy the retired military aircraft showcased at the entrance of to the National Air Guard Base located just east of the airport.

Come on by!

Stop by our Visitors Center, located in downtown Fort Wayne at 927 Harrison St. (on the corner of Harrison and Washington directly across from the Grand Wayne Center) for maps, guides, and information about what to see and do.

Explore Downtown

Downtown Fort Wayne is easily accessible on foot and parking is reasonably priced near by. From here you can venture through downtown to enjoy the architecture and history of our great city. Grab a bite at one of our many restaurants, take a walk around Parkview Field (it’s open during non game days and admission is free), shop in our unique shops, and check out our historic Allen County Courthouse.  If you’re looking to know about the history of Fort Wayne, pop in to the Fort Wayne History Center located at 302 E Berry St (on the corner of Barr and Berry).  If you’d like to know more about the architecture and preservation of area buildings visit ARCH, Architecture and Community Heritage, at 818 Lafayette Street.  Downtown Fort Wayne has beautiful parks to enjoy as well.  Relax by the fountains in Freimann Square or go ice-skating in Headwaters Park.

Check out our great neighborhoods

Consider a walking tour of West Central’s historic homes. This historic neighborhood, located just west of downtown Fort Wayne boasts many restored homes and tree lined streets just waiting for you to stroll down. Looking for a sweet treat and some great shops? Check out the East State Neighborhood with great shops to pop in and out of. Don’t forget to pick up a cupcake at Yum.Mee’s Bakery (I recommend the vanilla). Want a great place to watch the game? Check out Wrigley Bar and Grill in the Georgetown Neighborhood.

Get a little shopping in while you’re in town

Fort Wayne has two great malls. Glenbrook Mall and the surrounding shopping centers have all of the stores you’re looking for. From Macy’s to Bobick’s Golf there’s a little bit for every shopper. Or, head to Jefferson Pointe for a beautiful shopping experience in their outdoor mall. With high end department stores such as Von Maur and boutiques such as Vera Bradley and Acorn you’ll find the best Fort Wayne has to offer.  Make sure to stop by DeBrands for a truffle or share the decadent ice cream sundae with a friend.

Take in a game

We love minor league sports in Fort Wayne. No matter the time of year, you can find an event to watch. Check out Mad Ants Basketball, Komets Hockey, The Derby Girls, or a TinCaps Baseball game. Tickets are reasonably priced and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Be a kid again

Explore the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. It appeals to kids from 3-93 and will make you want to return. Be sure to feed the giraffes and take in the sea lion show.  If animals aren’t your thing, head on over to Science Central where kids can learn about science hands on.  You can’t miss their brightly painted smoke stacks just north of downtown.

Take in a festival

From late spring to early fall there’s a festival almost every weekend. You’re sure to be entertained by GermanFest, the Three Rivers Festival, or Johnny Appleseed Festival. Even if you’re not here during the Johnny Appleseed Festival, stop by Johnny Appleseed Park at 1500 Coliseum Blvd. There you’ll find the final resting place of John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed.

Experience the Arts

Explore the Art scene in Fort Wayne. The Art Campus is located on the east side of downtown and is walkable. There you’ll explore museums, galleries, studios, theatres, and a cinema.

Eat!

Fort Wayne is know for its unique treats.  Whether you’re in the mood for Coney Dogs at Coney Island on Main Street or a tour of DeBrand’s Chocolate Factory (complete with samples) on Auburn Rd there’s something for you. You’ll lovesimple Greek meals from Friends Too, a great steak and a merlot from Chops, and Italian goodness from Casa’s.  You’re sure to find something that fits your taste buds.

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Does it feel like everyone you know is heading out of town for Spring Break? Are you wondering what you’re going to do for a week with no travel plans? I have some ideas that will help you make this year’s Fort Wayne staycation better than any destination you could have traveled to.

Unplug

The best part about being on vacation is being away from it all so why should a staycation be any different. Turn your out-of-office message on, record an outgoing voicemail that you’ll be on vacation, don’t offer to take calls on vacation, and don’t drive by the office. Would you be checking messages if you were in Disney World with your family? Probably not, so why check in frequently on a staycation? Consider hiding the clocks, your watch, and spending little to no time on the computer.  If you wouldn’t live by the clock or keep your laptop open while hiking the PCT, than don’t do it on your staycation either.

Turn your home into a vacation paradise

A great vacation luxury is staying in a nice hotel. When you arrive it’s clean, has wonderful linens, nice bath products, and soothing music. Create the same oasis in your home before you start vacation. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service like Maids2Order in Fort Wayne to embrace that luxury feeling right from the start of your staycation. Check out Steinmart, or Bed Bath and Beyond, and treat yourself to the luxury of high thread count sheets, towels, and robes just like you would find in a hotel.

Have a Theme

There are so many great things to do in Fort Wayne so why not go all out and create themed days to enjoy.  Here are a few ideas.

For the Love of the Game.

Fort Wayne has dozens of parks for outdoor fun whether you’re looking to shoot hoops, play a game of baseball with friends, or kick it old school with games of tag and dodge ball!  Why not invite friends and create your own Olympics? Pick your family’s favorite sports and enjoy them in one of Fort Wayne’s parks. Finish off the day with a TinCaps game. Choose a night that includes fireworks, and your day will be capped off just as magically as it would have been while hanging out with the mouse in Florida.

Learn Something New

Have you always wanted to learn to play golf but never made the time? Contact some of Fort Wayne’s first class golf courses and take a lesson. Always wanted to try Yoga? Give Lotus Yoga and Wellness Gallery a call and check out a class. Are you a budding artist just waiting for someone to give you a brush? Take a class from Wine and Canvas. They’ll not only teach you to paint but they’ll offer the class in a beautiful setting like Country Heritage Winery.

Party Like You’re on Vacation

Do you like to blow off some steam and put your dance shoes on while you’re on vacation? Plan a night out during your staycation too. Whether you’re looking for a boot stompin’ good time at the Neon Armadillo, or you want to kick up your heels with some local bands at Duty’s Uptown Bar & Grill there’s always great places to dance. Looking for some great jazz?  Check out Club Soda’s live music on the weekends.

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town

Check out all of the sites visitors come to town to see. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, the History Center, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Botanical Conservatory, and Science Central are just a few of the places tourists love to visit.  Staycations are a great opportunity to see all of the places that we drive everyday and yet never stop at.

The Great Outdoors

Would your vacation consist of camping or hiking in the woods? Your staycation can too. Fort Wayne Trails has over 60 miles of trails in Northeast Indiana to explore on foot or by bike. Check out Fort Wayne Outfitters to rent bikes or rent a canoe and take advantage of the rivers in Fort Wayne. Earth Adventures on West Main Street will outfit you with anything you need to camp out in your own backyard while on your staycation.

Enjoy a Spa Day

If treating yourself to a luxury spa experience is part of your vacation ritual don’t miss out on your staycation.  Schedule a spa day at Woodhouse Day Spa for all the best pampering at a much more affordable price than a resort spa.  If a spa day isn’t in your budget, stop by the Aveda Store in Jefferson Pointe Mall to stock your bathroom with the best in spa products that will leave you feeling pampered. Tip: Many of their products are available in budget friendly travel sizes.

For more suggestions, check out the Spring Break section at VisitFortWayne.com!

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Are you planning a visit to Fort Wayne and trying to keep up with your current exercise routine? Here are a list of our top gyms here in Fort Wayne, and their guest policies.

American Health

American Health is an IPFA affiliated gym and allows members of other IPFA affiliate gyms to workout for free. Guest fee for non-members is $10 with a member and $15 without. They also offer a weekly guest rate of $25 for unlimited gym use. There is a $5 drop in fee for any of their classes for non-members (class schedule available online). Currently, on their website they are offering a one week membership for free. Just print it off and stop in.

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5am-10pm
Friday: 5am-9pm
Saturday: 7am-6pm
Sunday: 8am-5pm
***hours may vary due to location

Locations:
Southwest- 4150 Illinois Road
North-4819 North Clinton

Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness has a casual drop in fee of $5 during staffed hours. Members of anytime fitness are allowed to workout at any of their locations after they have been a member of the gym for 30+ days.

Staffed Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10am-6pm
Friday: 10am-4pm
Saturday: 9am-noon
Sunday: no staffed hours
***staffed hours may vary

Locations:
Southwest(Times Corner)- 6374 Jefferson Blvd
Downtown- 203 E Berry
North (East DuPont)- 2886 DuPont
North (West DuPont)- 1505 DuPont
North- 10536 Maysville
North- 6520 East State Street

Max Fitness

Max Fitness offers a $10 day pass and $25 for a week pass. Student and military passes are $5 a day and $15 a week.

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7am-7pm
***hours may vary due to location

Locations:
Southwest- 9914 Illinois Road
North- 7245 Maplecrest
North- 1415 DuPont

Planet Fitness

Planet Fitness has a $20 day pass. Black card members are able to bring guest, 18 or older with a valid ID, for free at any time.

Hours: Open and staffed 24/7

Locations:
Southwest- 6360 Jefferson Blvd
North- 4530 Maplecrest

Spiece Fitness

Guests who are not with a member will pay $15/visit.  All guests must be at least eighteen years of age to use the fitness area.  An in-town guest may use Spiece Fitness two (2) times in any one (1) calendar year (paid, or unpaid).  The guest must produce a picture ID, and they must sign the guest registration each time they use the facility.

Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 5am to 10pm
Friday: 5am to 9pm
Saturday: 7am to 7pm
Sunday:  8am to 6pm

Location:
5310 Merchandise Drive

YMCA

A YMCA member is able to visit any YMCA branch in any state. Each member is given 2 free guest passes, after both passes have been used there is a $5 fee for each guest there after.

Hours: Monday-Thursday: 5am-10pm
Friday: 5am-9pm
Saturday: 7am-6pm
Sunday: 10am-6pm
***hours may vary branch to branch

Locations:
Southwest- 10313 Aboite Center Road
North (Dupont)- 10001 Dawson’s Creek Blvd
Central (downtown)- 1020 Barr Street
South- 2323 Bowser Ave

Also, many of our hotels have their own workout facilities for their guests. So check with the concierge at your hotel for details.

Don’t let your visit here get in the way of your fitness routine. All these gyms are guest friendly and would love for you to stop in!

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As a huge basketball fan, I was excited when it announced in 2007 that Fort Wayne would be the home of a NBDL team. I attended several Fort Wayne Fury games back in the early 90’s, but after a little research, I learned the quality of basketball was expected to be much better in this new league. It was announced that a few highly-regarded college players could eventually suit up for the Ants, including many college stars from the state of Indiana (IU, Notre Dame, Purdue and IPFW).

After receiving the name “Fort Wayne Mad Ants” in recognition of General Anthony Wayne (George Washington’s buddy) and looking over the team’s roster, I jumped on board the Mad Ants bandwagon. And I haven’t left since.

Having been to the Memorial Coliseum on several occasions, I knew what to expect: Good food, reasonable beer prices and a clean venue. What I didn’t expect was a competitive team on the floor, and tons of entertainment.

During most timeouts and in-between quarters, there are many different promotions, some two at a time, like t-shirts being thrown in the stands, trivia questions, races, etc. The announcer is loud and he gets you fired up. The Mad Ants mascot, properly named “The Mad Ant” is always jumping around and getting the crowd on their feet. He takes tons of pictures with kids, who then enjoy playing with his antlers.

The product on the court is one a serious basketball fan would appreciate. These players are not Michael Jordan or LeBron James, but they are solid professional basketball players, who are working their tails off to win. Eventually, these players hope to reach the NBA, which is the ultimate goal. It was neat seeing firsthand many former players that I knew from college, competing right here in Fort Wayne.

Following the game, I was happy to see the players interacting with the fans. Players took pictures and signed autographs, even had long conversations with people they probably didn’t know. The Mad Ants players and organization do an outstanding job interfacing with the local community. I thought that was a huge and unforeseen plus during my Mad Ants experience.

If you have wanted to attend a Mad Ants game or were unsure what to expect, I can tell you that you and your family or friends will walk away very happy with the total experience. I plan to return to many Mad Ants games in the near future!

And, you can WIN TICKETS to see the Mad Ants in action! Simply click here to register to win!

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