family travel

We’re at the final post of the series Family Fun in Fort Wayne and it is full of really tasty restaurants and fun attractions. I’ve already written about day one and half of day two in part 1 and part 2. I was fortunate enough to experience two full days of fun feeling like a local being hosted by Visit Fort Wayne. When you take your trip, give them a call first because they’ll be able to tailor your trip to your family’s tastes. They’re so easy to work with and extremely passionate about their booming city.

I ended with a stop for treats at my favorite chocolate shop DeBrand on Day 2 in part 2 of the series. I’ll start right up where we left off which would be a visit to the Genealogy Center.

Fort Wayne Genealogy Center

When I was first invited on this trip I was asked for a few details on my family history. Upon arrival at the second largest genealogy center in the world, I was blown away by it’s expanse. The sheer number of books is outstanding. We took a tour of the center and learned that people from all over the world travel to their location to learn more about their family history. There are books in their collection that they are the only ones with a copy.

Allison, one of the genealogists, said ‘I love working here. It’s like a big puzzle that you don’t know what the pieces look like or where they go so it’s very satisfying when you find a piece that fits!’ While we were there they gave us a HUGE folder with information on our family tree. They have genealogists on hand that can help you with your puzzle and they reached back to my ancestor that was born in 1802! It was such a special gift to receive and I highly recommend giving them a visit.

Hoppy Gnome

After lots of excitement at the Genealogy Center we headed out for appetizers at the Hoppy Gnome. Tacos, small plates and craft brews are what they’re known for. It’s a brewery where you even get the chance to brew your own beer. How awesome would that be for a bachelor party? We were served with a few of their top items: Huarache (my favorite), chips with queso and quac (also can’t be missed), Asian Tuna Tartare and s’mores with homemade marshmallows that you roast yourself! Even knowing that we were headed somewhere else for dinner, I could hardly stop myself from having their amazing food.

Tolon

We ended the night on a high note with dinner at Tolon. Tolon Oh Tolon. Tolon is my new favorite restaurant. I hate that it’s an hour and a half from me. Secretly wishing the husband (chef) and wife team would get inspiration to move to the Indy area so I can eat there more!
Tolon is Fort Wayne’s first farm to table restaurant located in historic downtown Fort Wayne. They focus on sustainable agriculture from their local farms providing in season produce and Indiana sourced proteins. There wasn’t one item we tried that I thought ‘eh..’ I LOVED it all.

My favorites were the Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Pork Loin Steak, and Corriander Duck Breast. Each dessert we tried was my favorite dessert ever. I will always have a special place in my heart belly for the Applebutter Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Their Chocolate Pot de Creme and their Tres Chocolate Fudge Brownie are also beyond amazing. And now I’m salivating.

Day 3 in Fort Wayne

Proximo

We started our final day with an amazing meal. Remember me talking about Hoppy Gnome earlier? They also own Proximo as well as BakerStreet Steakhouse. I can’t speak for BakerStreet Steakhouse but if it’s anything like Proximo and Hoppy Gnome it’s a must-eat. Breakfast restaurants are my favorite kind of restaurants and Proximo is my new favorite. The ambiance was beautiful and it would make a great place for a business meeting or brunch with the girls.

We tried a large amount of their menu but my favorites were the Carnita Benedict (must), Chilaquiles (must), Steak and Eggs, Dolce de Leche French Toast, Ancho Maple Pancakes, and Garbage Skillet (must). One of my favorite aspects of this restaurant were the prices. Breakfast places are always so expensive but Proximo, despite having amazing food and ambiance, has really affordable prices.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Despite it being very cold and very windy we had fun experiencing a hard hat tour of the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo off season. I’ve never had so much fun at a zoo where I only saw two animals! Out of all of the amazing places I’ve mentioned, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is the one you absolutely can’t miss. The zoo opens April 27th and they’ve got major changes this season. Some of them were top secret but we were able to see a few really cool exhibits that will be opening soon.

I loved all of the educational aspects of the FW Children’s Zoo. Before heading into the rainforest area there is an exhibit showcasing all of the different animals and insects you might find in a rainforest. I’m most looking forward to going back to see the orangutans. Their exhibit is like what they would live in in the wild with vines and trees they can swing through. I could have watched them all day because they were so active. The zoo also has a ride in each area of the zoo as well as really good food if you choose to eat at the zoo.

Hop River Brewing Company

We ended our trip with one of the coolest concepts I’ve ever seen. Hop River Brewing Company is a family friendly brewery that is truly family friendly. They cater to all kids, young and old. Their German beerhall-style taproom has rows of communal tables, shelves of board games for all-ages, and pinball tables. You can explore their lively outdoor patio with picnic tables, fire pits, and corn hole. Don’t come to watch the game because there are no TVs to promote interaction. Their beer is amazing and their food is even better (get the onion dip!)

In my opinion, the best part about this company is their dedication to their community and making everyone feel welcome. They take pride in their Fort Wayne community by offering various events in partnership with local non-profits and other Fort Wayne breweries and wineries. They also offer seasonal Fort Wayne dining using local ingredients on our from scratch kitchen menu. A really excellent example of shopping local and I’m happy to recommend them to anyone.

In conclusion, all I have to say about Fort Wayne (aside from the three posts I just wrote) is that I can’t wait to go back. So many passionate people making that city such a welcoming place for people of all ages. I can’t think Visit Fort Wayne enough for sponsoring this trip and all the other amazing places that hosted us on this trip.

If you have any questions, let me know. I’m happy to give advice for your family. There’s so much we haven’t seen yet that I’ve been told I must see on our trip in June. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that when all I want to do is re-visit all of the places I’ve already been. On my list is to definitely see more murals. They’re everywhere! Keep your eyes open for really cool art sculptures that double as bike racks too!

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This is part 2 of 3 I’ll be doing with Fort Wayne for my media trip. I see us having a lot of family fun in Fort Wayne for many years so I’ll keep the updates coming. Seeing the awesome growth they’re in tells me I’ll have lots more to share with each visit.

I ended with a hard hat tour of the new Promenade Park on Day 2 in part 1 of the series. I’ll start right up where we left off which would be a visit to the arts district.

Family Fun in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne Museum of Art and Arts United

When we walked into the FW Museum of Art my first thought was ‘I love how art is right in your face as soon as you walk in.’ You didn’t have to go through the lobby to get to the exhibit halls. Straight away you’re greeted with sculpture and glass pieces that are phenomenal. As you walk through the exhibits you’ll see stunning pieces of all mediums. My favorite area was the 2019 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (there until April 6). The talent and heart put into these pieces is truely inspiring for all ages. The museum also has a children’s area that they’re in the planning stages to re-vamp to make friendly for more ages. It’s a space where kids can be hands on with art and an invitation to be creative in their own way.

We only saw a portion of the Arts United campus which includes the Arts United Center, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Auer Center, Parkview Physicians Group ArtsLab, Hall Center, History Center and Rankin House. We stopped in the Auer Center to see a beautiful exhibit called Mother Sea Haha Naru Umi by Sayaka Ganz. She defines her work as “3D impressionism,” assembling various pieces of plastic to emphasize movement and bright colors, using her materials like the broad strokes of a paintbrush.

Coney Island

If you know me well, you know that hot dogs are my favorite food. I have them as my birthday dinner every year because I love them that much! I was excited to see on our itinerary that we were heading to Coney Island because I saw it featured in People magazine in 2018. Coney Island boasts to be the oldest hot dog stand in America opening in 1914. It’s a great way to step back in time and their prices can’t be beat.

Science Central

I was impressed to say the least with Fort Wayne Science Central. I’m extremely familiar with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and have been to the Smithsonian’s and big Chicago museums. That being said, there’s something about the science centers that have me more entertained for longer than the other museums. I think it’s the hands-on aspect of learning science that intrigues me so much. There is such an incredible amount to learn for all ages at this museum (it’s not just for kids!)

My favorite part was the Science on a Sphere exhibit where you can learn all about our earth and the rest of our galaxy from a massive sphere suspended from the ceiling. They’re also in the planning stages of adding on a planetarium to add to this exhibit! Science Central can easily take up an entire day (or two) so bring along your packed lunch and snacks because you won’t want to leave!

The Embassy Theatre

I really did not want to leave Science Central but was excited to head over to one of the oldest theatres in Indiana, The Embassy Theatre. The Embassy Theatre was built in 1928 celebrating it’s 90th birthday last year! It is such an ornate theater that it’s worth just going inside for a peek at the architecture and detailing. They have an awesome line up of all kinds of performances from the FW Philharmonic to Broadway series performances. The King and I, Harry Potter in Concert, Chris Angel and Neil Degrasse Tyson! A lot of shows go to The Embassy because it is such an iconic theatre, they completely pass up Indianapolis.

Tincaps Baseball Diamond

As a Mom who likes to introduce my family to new experiences that are inexpensive, I loved visiting Parkview Field, home of the Tincaps minor league baseball team. One of their biggest focuses is making going to the ballpark with your whole family affordable anytime. They have 360 degree viewing capability of the entire diamond which is unheard of anywhere else. They have fun themed nights like The Office, Harry Potter, Superheros and Turn the Park Pink where the players have themed jerseys for the game! Parkview Field has fireworks every Friday and Saturday home game and has special savings nights like:

• Sundays: Postgame Autographs presented by Subway
• Mondays: US Foods Family Feast Nights ($1 food deals)
• Thursdays: Thirsty Thursdays™ presented by Rudy’s Shop ($1 beer & other drink specials)
• Fridays: Theme Nights
• Saturdays: National Entertainment Acts
• All Games: Run the Bases presented by Trine University Fort Wayne

DeBrand Chocolate

Quite honestly, I stumbled upon DeBrand Fine Chocolates when I was 8 months pregnant and spotted a sidewalk sign that said ‘ice cream and chocolate’ in Keystone. Since then, I can’t go to that area of town without stopping to buy our family our very favorite chocolate. Fort Wayne is home to the factory where they make these wonderful fine chocolates and you can actually take a tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays! TIP: take the tour before buying your chocolate because they give you samples.

This is the perfect place to break and continue on to the rest of my trip in the next and final post. Keep in mind that I’ll also be writing about our family trip when we visit in June where I’ll be able to share our family’s perspective on visiting Fort Wayne. Again, huge massive thanks to Visit Fort Wayne for being such lovely hosts on this trip!

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Last week I was invited to join some lovely writers for a media tour of Fort Wayne. If I had to choose one word to wrap up our trip it would be ‘booming‘. The city has focused on making things more family friendly and there is an incredible amount of fun to be had for all ages.

Family Fun in Fort Wayne

I live in the Indy area which is only an hour and a half from Fort Wayne, yet I’d never been. My entire Mom’s side of the family is from Fort Wayne and Hunnington, yet I’d never been. Only once I started researching for my trip did I learn that it’s the second largest city in Indiana. To be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you where in Indiana it was. Cut to day 2 of our media tour and I’m already telling my husband we’re coming back this summer because ‘it’s so fun!!!‘

Because we did so much on our three day trip to Fort Wayne, I’m going to separate this post into two parts according to the timeline we used for our trip.

Day 1 in Fort Wayne

Heading to Fort Wayne I was desperately trying to dodge pot holes through the torrential downpour that we were having as our first day of Spring in Indiana. Needless to say, I was a little weary from my drive but my mood quickly changed as I was greeted at check-in of my hotel Courtyard Fort Wayne Downtown at Grand Wayne Convention Center. The lobby was lively with happy voices spilling from the bar area of Conner’s Kitchen and the hotel had that wonderful Marriott smell. The hotel is beautifully decorated and I was excited to see such an awesome view of the Parkview Field baseball diamond from my room’s window.

The Hedge

Once I had a minute to rest, we were wisked off to a welcome reception at The Hedge hosted by Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Visit Fort Wayne. TIP: contact these two amazing groups if when you travel up north in Indiana. They know all the things and are so sweet! Along with a beautiful charchuterie spread from the amazing Bird and Cleaver we were able to learn how to use Julie’s printing press to make coasters! Julie Wall just celebrated her 6th year of owning The Hedge where she hosts craft workshops, sells her art and works out of her studio. I suggest stopping there to check out her art and her 100+ year old printing presses and stop by Sassie Cakes next door for some fresh cookie dough.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

After the welcome reception we headed to dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. If you’ve been to Ruth’s Chris, you know that they have the highest level of dining experiences. The food was specially prepared for us and the service was nothing short of outstanding. I highly recommend the Sweet Potato side dish and the Carrot Cake dessert.

Day 2 in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory

Day two started off with an Amish breakfast from Rise n’ Roll at the Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory. Conservatories and botanical gardens are my thing and I was very impressed with the collection of spieces and educational aspect at the FW Botanical Conservatory. High on the list was a kids garden that was staged as the 100 Acre Woods. Furthermore, they have beautiful waterfalls within their rain forest green house and a cactus that is over 100 years old in their dessert green house. This is definitely on my list for our visit in June. I know Sophia will love playing in the children’s garden.

The Landing

After my #plantlady dreaming in the conservatory we went out to The Landing for an exclusive hard hat tour. The Landing is a historical street that they’re completely overhauling to make 70 apartments and 56,000 SF of commercial space while keeping the historic integrity of the existing buildings. Development of The Landing will include unique, mostly local retail and restaurants, a coffee shop and brewpub—all destination-worthy. I love that they’re taking out the ability for vehicular traffic in that area to make it one large area for eating, drinking, shopping and living.

Promenade Park at the Riverfront

When we visit in June, I’m most excited to see the transformation and completion of Promenade Park. Located on the northern edge of downtown Fort Wayne, Promenade Park will be home to gathering spaces for the community, including a pavilion, amphitheater, canopy trail, kids’ canal, playground and more. They’re having a three day festival celebrating the completion June 21-23 which is why we’re visiting in June! I’m really excited for my kids to play in the kid’s canal and check out the canopy trail. A place for major family fun in Fort Wayne! If you’re able to drive to Fort Wayne for your trip, check out my favorite activity books for kids.

I’ll continue the with day 2 in my next post. To say there’s a lot to do in Fort Wayne is an understatement! You can also find a ton of video from my time there in my Highlight Stories on Instagram. In short, I had such a wonderful time, not only meeting new friends but experiencing all of the progression that Fort Wayne is experiencing. I appreciate Visit Fort Wayne for inviting me on this trip and being such amazing hosts.

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