Maybe you didn't take a single vacation day last year, or the stress is piling up - take time to take a break and be a tourist in your hometown. Grab your family and friends, and discover or re-discover all that Fort Wayne has to offer!
Fort Wayne, Indiana Staycation Itinerary
Devour (eat)
Known for our variety and quality of restaurants, take a tour of Fort Wayne's food scene, and dine at old favorites or discover soon-to-be favorites. Highlights of Fort Wayne's food scene include classics like Coney Island and Cindy's Diner, new destinations like The Landing, and quality restaurants featuring food from all over the world including Burmese, Salvadorian, Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian. And don't forget dessert spots like Oh Five Scoop Shop, Kilwins, or DeBrand Fine Chocolates!
Not sure where to start your food tour? We recommend deciding what kind of experience or food you are looking for and then narrowing your options down from there. If you're taking the kids with you, make sure the restaurant is not 21 and older only because there are a few around town, including Club Soda and Henry's. An easy way to choose where to eat is by searching Visit Fort Wayne's Best of Restaurants Page. Or, check out the Restaurants page where you can search for a list of restaurants.
You can also sample some of the great food trucks around town by having Lunch on the Square on Thursdays from June to August.
Discover (play)
On your staycation, fill your day with exploring public art in downtown Fort Wayne, getting out on the riverfront, or spending the day with family at some of Fort Wayne's favorite attractions. Of course, there is plenty more for you to discover like Fort Wayne's entertainment centers, and special events and festivals! Plan your activities by first visiting Visit Fort Wayne's Calendar of Events to narrow down your itinerary, then add on to your activities by using our trip ideas page.
Can't-Miss Attractions and New Favorites to Discover
- Fort Wayne Zoo
- Fort Wayne Museum of Art
- Science Central
- Botanical Conservatory
- Promenade Park
- Artlink
- The Genealogy Center
- Shop at many of the downtown boutiques like Fancy and Staple or The Find
- See a Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball game or a Fort Wayne Komets hockey game
The Komets season ends around the end of March but don't worry because you can still catch a Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball game. Their opening day is usually in April.
Great Events Happening Throughout the Year
Enjoy a Fort Wayne festival or start planning your weekend with some of Fort Wayne's best events!
Debut (new)
There are always new things to see and do in Fort Wayne! From events to new attractions and additions, here are a few that we're excited about:
- Fort Wayne Football Club's new home—Ruoff Mortgage Stadium. With a home opening match on May 2, the opening of the new stadium also marks the Fort Wayne Football Club's move up to USL League One. Grab your black and gold team gear and catch a match!
- Construction on the second phase of Riverfront Fort Wayne should be completed in 2026. This new phase will feature new public spaces open to the public like ab accessible bouldering mound, hammock grove, amphitheater, and more.
- Science Central's much anticipated Planetarium opened in March of 2026! It's the only public planetarium in the region, and simulates the cosmos for an out of this world experience.
- The Arts United Center, a downtown theater and performing arts center, re-opened in fall of 2025 with a completely re-envisioned footprint focused on accessibility with all new seating and features like improved elevators, which offer the chance for access to backstage and office areas, for people of all abilities. All the enhancements have also preserved the intent of the original architect, the revered Louis Khan.
- In 2026, Fort Wayne Trails will have a new bridge across Coliseum Blvd. The Vonn Family Crossing, just west of Glenbrook Square, will connect the Pufferbelly Trail, and allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely walk and roll over the heavy traffic of the highway. This segment is another connecter for the aspired 82-mile Poka-Bache Connector trail from Pokagon State Park in Angola to Ouabache State Park in Bluffton.
To find all things new in Fort Wayne go to VisitFortWayne.com/new to see the latest.
Deals
Nothing's better than having fun and saving money at the same time! Sign up for the free Fort Wayne Savings Pass to have access to over $200 worth of savings at Allen County businesses, attractions, and activities.
For the full experience of Fort Wayne attractions and the convenience of having all of your admission in one place, purchase a Fort Wayne Adventure Pass to save 30% across 7 of the area's top attractions.
For even more savings, visit our coupons page to see how you can make your dollar go even further on your next visit.
Dream (stay)
Stay the night at one of the great hotel options in Fort Wayne, from downtown stays to hotels with pools and unique Airbnbs, there are great options for everyone's needs. Visit Fort Wayne is your resource to pick the best option. Plus, many hotels in Fort Wayne offer discounts and packages to make your stay even sweeter - check out the hotel packages here.
If none of the packages suits your needs, browse all of the hotels around Fort Wayne.
While making time to have a vacation is tough, we obviously think it's a great compromise to have a staycation that is easy on your wallet and convenient!
This post was originally published in March 2018 and has been updated. Last Updated: April 2026
