Your Fort Wayne experience doesn’t have to end when you leave town. Several local businesses have online ordering, so you can take a little bit of the flavor with you! Here are a few to start:

DeBrands Fine Chocolates:  Their safe and secure website offers an easy and efficient online shopping experience.  Whether you’re sending gifts, or treating yourself to some of the world’s best chocolates, it’s like having your own chocolate shop right inside your home. The best part is you can take advantage of their flat rate shipping – only $9.95 per recipient on all retail orders under $1,000 in the continental USA. Delivery is within 1-2 business days from ship date.

Phil’s Hobby Shop:  From arts & crafts, to trains, there is something for everyone hobbyist. In addition to their two Fort Wayne locations, Phil’s offers e-commerce. Customers can take advantage of free shipping for all order over $100.

Vera Bradley: Vera Bradley is known for its bags with charming patterns to suit all tastes.   These popular and colorful products seem to pop up everywhere you look — on college campuses, in airports, walking down the street.

OFabz: OFabz has made a name for itself with gorgeous swimsuit designed for the functional needs of active guys and gals. The styles vary, but are totally retro. Fine one that speaks to you via their online store!

TinCaps: Show your support for Fort Wayne’s home team through purchasing some apparel from the TinCaps team store. From T-shirts, to caps, to jerseys, they have it all!

Visit Fort Wayne – The ultimate place for Fort Wayne souvenirs – you can find t-shirts, mugs, books and more!

What are some other Fort Wayne favorites that you love?

I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana – have all my life. Heck, I’m writing this post not five minutes from the house I grew up in. As a blogger for Visit Fort Wayne, it’s my job to share my passion for this city and the people, places, and things that make it great. But once my posts are published, what then? Sure, I get the occasional comment, but I don’t really know who’s reading them, whether they follow my advice, or what experiences they take home with them. Recently, though, I had the opportunity to work a Saturday in the Visitors Center and interact with some of the very people for whom I write. Here are a few stories from my day:

• A sweet elderly woman was visiting from Florida. She’d been all around the U.S. doing genealogy research and finally made it here to use the Allen County Public Library, home of the largest public genealogy archive in the country. She had had a lovely time here and, before she left, really wanted to take some pictures of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception but thought she couldn’t because her iPad didn’t have a wireless connection. Part of my day job, coincidentally, is iPad support, so I was able to show her how to use her iPad’s camera (no internet connection required).

• A couple from Michigan was vacationing here for the weekend. When asked why they decided to come to Fort Wayne, they told us they put several potential destinations in a hat (Cleveland, Chicago, and Indianapolis among them) and drew Fort Wayne. They seemed to really be enjoying their stay.

• A family in town for the convention of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization of the United States and Canada asked where to find the best seafood in town. Easy: Paula’s on Main and the Oyster Bar.

• A gentleman from Illinois in town for a sporting event visited twice that day: the first time to get directions to the University of Saint Francis; the second, to thank us for our earlier help. We also found him a hotel to spend the night and a great place to see a movie, too.

• There were also inquiries about relocating to Fort Wayne, good places to play tennis, and what to do when in town for a wedding.

The Visitors Center offers all of this information and assistance, souvenirs and more!

There are so many reasons why people come here: sometimes the city is a means to an end (a wedding, a reunion, or a convention), and sometimes the city is an end unto itself (a vacation destination). I met both kinds of traveler during my day at the Visitors Center, and I’m looking forward to getting another chance to be on the front line with conventioneers, tourists, and families as they learn how much Fort Wayne has to offer. Until then, they’ll just have to read about it!

While the fall leaves are at their most breathtaking and the air is crisp yet refreshing, consider a walking tour during your visit to Fort Wayne, Indiana. This tour can be done anytime of year at your own leisure, but you are sure to enjoy it during the autumn season!

First off, download and save or print out a PDF version of the walking tour from the Visit Fort Wayne Visitors Center here. The tour begins right at the Visitors Center and takes you across Washington Street and over to the gorgeous Grand Wayne Convention Center.

Next pass the Embassy Theatre and venture into the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, an indoor and outdoor garden known for blooming foliage and decor year-round. Then head north to The History Center which showcases both Fort Wayne and Allen County history, including more than 26,000 photographs, along with historic artifacts and memorabilia. The tour takes you next to the Auer Center for Performing Arts: home of the Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Trails, Pembroke Bakery and Artlink gallery.

If you’re looking for a souvenir of Fort Wayne, a stop at the Visitors Center at 927 S. Harrison Street can help.

The beautiful new Visitors Center is a great resource for information about attractions, restaurants, events and more.

Children will enjoy the snow globes, small stuffed bears ‘bearing’ a Fort Wayne shirt, Johnny Appleseed alphabet book, and bouncy balls. Older readers can learn about Fort Wayne’s historic aspects through several titles. An intricate 34″ x 13.5″ pencil etching of the Fort Wayne skyline highlights some of Fort Wayne’s best features.

All ages will find t-shirts and ball caps in a plethora of colors, sizes and designs, including those depicting Fort Wayne’s popular Tin Caps. Need a postcard of Fort Wayne? Dozens with modern designs are available at Visit Fort Wayne. Lovely notecards drawn from the enchanted hand of Diane Groehnert depict some of Fort Wayne’s most famous landmarks, including Embassy Theatre and Henry’s Restaurant.

The Fort Wayne Visitors Center offers a wide variety of merchandise, from souvenirs to locals brands like Debrand Fine Chocolates and Vera Bradley.

People on the go may choose an attractive travel mug, while the ever-popular shot glass with Fort Wayne logo is a great item to fit into a suitcase’s small spaces. Of course, the Fort Wayne souvenir line-up would not be complete without DeBrand chocolate bars. Yum! In addition, several items from Vera Bradley’s latest designs are on display and available for purchase. Design-your-own gift boxes of Fort Wayne souvenirs are also available—just ask Visit Fort Wayne staff for assistance.

The upcoming holidays make purchases from Visit Fort Wayne especially helpful for hard-to-buy-for individuals. Stop in during regular business hours to peruse the complete inventory. For more information, check them out online.