From revamped historic sites and fine arts to downtown attractions and riverfront fun, the second-largest city in Indiana provides plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. These are just a few of the more intriguing locales you’ll want to get to know during your visit:
The Landing
One of Fort Wayne’s oldest districts, the Landing looks much different today than when it operated as a pioneer depot, settlement, and dock for Wabash and Erie Canal boat traffic back in the mid-1800s. The area now boasts a vibrant stretch of commercial development along Columbia Street just a stone’s throw from the St. Marys River.
Taste:
Residents and visitors flock to the Landing to enjoy inventive Asian fusion cuisine at Nawa, Mercado’s elevated Mexican street food, pints of craft brew at the GnomeTown Brewing Co. on the Landing, and continental breakfast fare at Utopian Coffee + Kitchen. Find more on this guide to dining on The Landing!
Stay:
For overnight accommodations, bed down at the stylish new Bradley Hotel — a collaborative project by Provenance Hotels and Vera Bradley co-founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, sitting pretty just a block away.
Riverfront:
At the confluence of three rivers — St. Marys, St. Joseph and Maumee, the Fort Wayne riverfront invites families and outdoorsy types to come outside and play with a wide variety of activities and entertainment.
See:
A one-stop-shop for recreation, public art, nature and culture, the expansive Promenade Park green space maintains a treetop canopy trail, bike paths, the all-inclusive PNC Playground, Teds Snack + Bar for food and drinks, and the Sweetwater Bandshell for live music events.
Paddle:
Borrow a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard from friendly Fort Wayne Outfitters to travel the waterways, or just relax and take in the sights with a guided cruise on Fort Wayne’s Sweet Breeze, a charming canal boat replica.
Arts Campus Fort Wayne
Recently recognized as a Statewide Cultural District by the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts Campus Fort Wayne claims some of the city’s finest institutions, including the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Arts United Center, and the Auer Center for Arts and Culture.
See:
If you’re not already attending a live performance, arrange a tour of the Arts United Center for a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at the Louis Kahn-designed venue.
Stroll:
Get a little fresh air with a wander through verdant Freimann Square. If you time it right, you might get to catch a free concert or festival. And every Thursday in the summer, enjoy delicious food truck fare during Lunch on the Square.
Grand Wayne Convention Center District
When it opened in 2009, Parkview Field (home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps) set off a wave of transformative development that has breathed new life into the Downtown region.
Dine:
A diverse collection of restaurants propose numerous choices – whether you a grabbing a bite before a baseball game or before a Broadway production at the handsome and historic Embassy Theater. Try the Copper Spoon, Conner’s Kitchen + Bar, J.K. O’Donnell’s Irish Pub, 816 Pint and Slice.
Do:
Take a walk around to admire the city’s colorful street murals, and pop into the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory to appreciate the flora across three distinctive greenhouse habitats. The Grand Wayne Convention Center continues to bring new audiences to Fort Wayne, introducing scores of future fans to everything this thriving city has to offer.
This post was originally published in April 2022. Last Updated: July 2023
