Road Trip to Fort Wayne 🚙

🚗Road trip to Fort Wayne Indiana

We traveled to Fort Wayne last weekend for a wedding, congrats Hannah and Joseph!  We decided to see what Fort Wayne had to offer.  Wow!  While the activities were similar to Columbus, there were new discoveries to be had.  And for a shorter road trip drive, I would suggest this experience to friends(and have already). #hosted

Take a little trip with us here(I always take a ridiculous amount of pictures, 😉).

🦓Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

3411 Sherman Blvd.  Fort Wayne

While we are completely spoiled by our zoo in Columbus(if you are a member you get a discount), I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun we had at the zoo.  I loved how you were immersed in nature throughout the park, as it is basically in the woods.  The animals we got to experience were also different than what our zoo offers.  

My oldest loves her rainbow peacock souvenir of course and that the real ones were roaming free in the zoo.  She also loved the Dingos and the Crocodile Creek ride.  My middle love the baby monkey, mongooses and carousel with zoo animals to ride.  My youngest liked the hyena up close, well pretty much all the animals because she is at the animals age.  I loved the sea lions! 

📜The Old Fort

1201 Spy Run Ave, Fort Wayne

I grew up exploring history on vacations, when I spied this gem I knew we had to squeeze it in our trip.  Make sure you check online for events that are happening while you visit on the weekend.  There is a bridge behind the fort that takes you to a cute little walking park with statues as well.  

The Old Fort is a recreation of the fort that stood in Fort Wayne in 1815. We offer events and programs highlighting several hundred years of history.  Since we’re a public park, you can always wander and enjoy the Fort’s grounds. During events, you’ll get a glimpse of life during specific eras and be able to explore inside the buildings.

🌿Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

Reciprocal membership with Franklin Park Conservatory, I love a good perk.  My girl’s enjoyed the talking tree and exploring the tunnel to a slide underground like a worm.  The desert was my favorite with a huge selection of cactuses.  The waterfalls were also a favorite of my girls.  And the learning stations were great, take note Franklin Park Conservatory.

Always in Season: Surround yourself with nature at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory ~ an oasis in the heart of downtown Fort Wayne Indiana. Visit the Showcase Garden with its lush seasonal displays, wander through the Tropical Garden where orchids and palms thrive in the shadows of a cascading waterfall, or retreat to the quiet beauty of the Desert Garden.

Hours

Tuesday-Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

Thursday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

Sunday 12 Noon to 4 pm

Closed Mondays, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day 

Admission Rates  

$5 Adults 

$3 Children (ages 3-17) 

Free ~ Children age 2 & under 

Members free  

🐄Keuhnert Dairy Farm

6532 West Cook Road, Fort Wayne

We were able to enjoy the Fall Festival while we visited.  My oldest loved the hay ride and learning about the cows and farm, climbing the giant hay bail fort and the jump pad.  The Toy Story theme also made her super happy.  My middle loved the train ride through the corn field, pedal tractors and the slides in the giant hay fort.  My youngest liked the giant corn pit with the thickest layer of corn I have ever seen.  I enjoyed the ninja warrior course, it even had the warped wall!

Located just a stone’s throw from the city limits of Ft. Wayne in Northeast Indiana.  This 6th generation family farm, established in the 1890’s, has always striven to produce high quality milk and dairy genetics as well as having a strong commitment to their community.  Come celebrate fall down on the farm with us –an experience for all ages that you cannot find anywhere else!

We are excited to share our family farm with our guest as we celebrate sixth season of the Kuehnert Dairy Fall Festival and 121 years of family farming. The 2019 season begins on September 13th and continues through October 27th.  Come enjoy our TOY STORY themed corn maze and festival festivities as your learn that You’ve Got A FRIEND in MILK!  We hope that you will join us to experience farm life while creating your own family memories.

🔬Science Central

1950 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne

My oldest can’t decide what her favorite was, because ‘it was too good!’.  My middle loved making a red car with her Dad and placing it on a track to see if their hard work paid off.  My youngest enjoyed the Mastodon footprint and the kid’s playspace.  The space exhibit was my favorite, oh and the giant slide! 

Why science centers matter

Why is Science Central important to the Fort Wayne community? Sure, it’s a fun place to bring the kids when the weather is rotten. But at its core, Science Central is much, much more than just a place to play. Science Central is a catalyst for learning, and it’s a catalyst for learning the most important subjects that employers will need our kids to know to perform work in the future – science, technology, engineering and math, or as they are commonly called, STEM. Careers in STEM are among the fastest growing fields in the nation. However, the United States is trailing behind the rest of the world when it comes to preparing students for success in these fields.

📚Allen County Library

Holy Space Tower, giant fish tank and bubble tubes, under 5 play house and a legit play cafe.  All for free!  Please note, you must be 7-9 to enjoy the upstairs of the reading tower(my kids were bummed). 

🍩Rise and Roll Bakery

5129 Illinois Rd, Fort Wayne

We have Der Dutchman close to most of Columbus.  This is their version.  My donut girls were pleased with the surprise.  They have a Meat and Cheese shop, products to buy, and even had gluten free donuts in the freezer(so thoughtful). A must stop while you visit.

🍺Granite City Food & Brewery

I worked in a restaurant to allow my husband to get a treat.  The food was excellent as well.  I’m not a fan of beer, but did enjoy the bramble on blackberry cider.  They had giant pretzels for Oktoberfest too, oh how I miss my trip to Germany.  Oh, and the chocolate cake is to die for! 

Welcome to Granite City Brewery, the home of fresh brewed craft beer. Since 1999, we’ve believed in one guiding principle:

FRESH BEER TASTES BETTER. 

That’s why we brew our beers fresh in every one of our restaurant breweries, using only the best ingredients. Our brewers tend to our beers every step of the way and deliver them straight from our tanks to our taps at the peak of flavor. 

Our passion for perfection doesn’t stop at beer: in our kitchens, our chefs create incredible made-from-scratch food, our bartenders are ready to mix your favorite cocktail, and our friendly staff have a passion for service. 

That’s why we’ve won national awards for Best Restaurant, Best Brunch, Best Patio, Best Beer, Best Martini, Best Burger, and many more, including the prestigious Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concept Winner. 

Plus there’s always something new happening: seasonal food and drink specials, great rewards programs and the Granite City Growler: a great way to take home your favorite Granite City beer. 

We’re out to make you a Granite City fan for life. Come by today and let us show you how.

DeBrand Chocolates 🍫

My girls all fell asleep in the car, so I ran in and chose some chocolates to sample. I landed on PB&J, toffee, hazelnut, and dark chocolate with caramel. They were all so good that We couldn’t pick a favorite.

🖌Art Murals 

These can be found in Fort Wayne with vibrant colors. Unfortunately, we ran out of time, bit we did pass the beauty.  I love how the sun played a role in my picture.