The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research 
Located inside the Main Branch of the Allen County Public Library downtown, the Rolland Center for Lincoln Research includes newspapers, books, photos, election tickets, letters, and diaries by soldiers from the American Civil War. The Center also features interactive displays to help you explore the life and times of Lincoln. The Center is open seven days a week and is free to visit. Check out their web page to learn about their latest interactive exhibits or to book a tour with a Lincoln librarian on the ACPL's website.
Embassy Theatre Behind the Scenes 
The theatre opened as a movie palace and Vaudeville house in 1928. Today, that glamorous vibe is still strong, from the beautifully mirrored theater lobby to the velvet curtained auditorium, complete with jewel-toned chandeliers. The theatre maintains an active schedule of movies (accompanied by the historic pipe organ), live concerts, musicals, and community events today.
But if you want to explore more, the theatre offers tours by appointment. Book ahead of time for a 30 – 90 minute tour that explores the theatre in a unique way, literally behind the scenes. Tours are $10 per person, days for a tour vary based on the performance schedule. Book with Carly Myers, Chief Marketing Officer, at carly@fwembassytheatre.org or at 260.424.6287, ext. 2241.
Wild Zoo Encounter
The Fort Wayne Zoo is definitely one of Fort Wayne’s top attractions, and a unique experience here is a Wild Animal Encounter. Each encounter allows you to get a behind-the-scenes look at specific animals or animal care activities. Choose your own encounter, like Oceans Wild (which explores the aquatic species at the Zoo), or the Penguin Encounter, where you get an up-close look at the Zoo’s African penguins. Each encounter comes as a group experience, so your admission covers a group of up to 4 or 6 people.
For your own safety, the Zoo asks Wild Encounters guests to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals) and to follow safety procedures, like wearing masks and gloves or handwashing, when necessary. Prices for each experience vary, from $250/6 person group (Giraffe) to $200/4 person group (Red Pandas). Tours meet, rain or shine; children must be ages 5 and up to attend. Children 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Check out the online registration here, or call (260) 427-6800 for more information.
Sweetwater Tours
If you’re a fan of Sweetwater Sound – or if you’d just like to explore a giant pop music facility – then set up a tour here! Sweetwater bills itself as the world's leading music technology and instrument retailer, and the size of their headquarters in Fort Wayne doesn’t disappoint.
Tours are limited to 20 people, and they are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Tours are free, but visitors need to call ahead or reach out through e-mail (concierge@sweetwater.com) to plan the experience. Tours explore the headquarters building and can include information on the LEED-certified eco-friendly design, their recording studios, and more. To reach Sweetwater, call (260) 432–8176 ex. 1137.
Fox Island
Enjoy some fresh air and learn about the local flora and fauna on a tour at Fox Island. It’s one of several county park properties in the Allen County Parks system, and Fox Island has a lot of events from which to choose: wildflower and butterfly hikes, owl prowls, story walks, evening moonlight hikes and more. Hikes are led by a park docent who can explain specific plants and animals native to the area.
Fox Island posts a schedule of hikes that will be available for the month. Specific days correspond with specific walks; while most walks are appropriate for all ages, some are designed for kids while others may be more vigorous, requiring longer legs!
Admission to Fox Island is $3 per person, and leashed dogs are welcome at the park. Children 7 and under are free. Check out their website to learn more.
Did Someone Say Chocolate?
If candy-making intrigues you, then take a tour of DeBrand Fine Chocolates! Tours explain the artisan process of chocolate making and give you a glimpse of chocolatiers at work. Production of candies varies by the day, so no tour will be exactly alike.
Public tours are offered on Tuesdays (10 a.m.), Thursdays (1 p.m.), and Saturday (10:30 a.m.). These tours need no reservations, but groups may have to wait for other groups to process through. Private tours can be scheduled for other days and times. DeBrand recommends touring on weekdays, as production does not happen on weekends.
Tours are $10 per person, with each person receiving a discount of $10 off a purchase of $20 or more of chocolate products. To learn more about DeBrand’s tours, check out their page.
