Looking for the best things to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana? You're in for a treat! Fort Wayne offers an impressive variety of attractions that make it one of the Midwest's most underrated travel destinations.
Whether you're planning a family vacation, romantic getaway, or weekend adventure, this vibrant city delivers with world-class museums, award-winning dining, outdoor recreation along scenic river trails, and stunning public art around every corner.
TL;DR Don’t have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
Fort Wayne Travel Guide: Discover the Best Activities, Sites & Experiences
From the nationally-ranked Fort Wayne Children's Zoo to unique experiences like riverboat tours and the largest genealogy research center in America, Fort Wayne has something special for every traveler.
This complete guide covers must-visit attractions and activities that will help you plan the perfect Fort Wayne itinerary. Let's explore everything this incredible Indiana city has to offer!
Promenade Park
When I visited Fort Wayne for the 1st time in 2015, they told us about their plans for Promenade Park. It felt at that time like a huge goal when we looked around at the area.
Fast forward to my 2025 visit, and Promenade Park is absolutely amazing. The park is filled with walking paths, open-air seating areas, easy access to the river, and a great public park energy.
Sweet Breeze Riverboat Tours at Promenade Park
Enjoy a fun scenic boat tour offering unique perspectives of Fort Wayne's three rivers with narrated history and beautiful downtown views.
Experience Fort Wayne from a completely different perspective aboard Sweet Breeze Riverboat Tours. These relaxing guided cruises depart from Promenade Park and take you along the historic waterways where Fort Wayne's three rivers—the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee—converge.
This is a great way to learn more about Fort Wayne's history while enjoying a leisurely afternoon boat tour.
Fort Wayne Murals
If you saw my Fort Wayne Girlfriends Getaway post you know that I am a bit obsessed with the Fort Wayne Mural Scene.
The amazing Fort Wayne Public Art Trail app helps you find murals and earn points for visiting them. You can earn rewards for visiting the murals and exploring the city....it's so much fun!
Fair warning you may find yourself exploring new areas of town, wanding down streets trying to find the epic mural you see on the app.
Speaking from experience, I am ready to go back and find new Fort Wayne murals and check them off in the app. Did we drive to the airport a different way than we did on the way into town to see new murals...yep.
Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is consistently named one of the top 10 zoos in the nation featuring immersive exhibits including the African Journey and Australian Adventure areas.
What truly sets this zoo apart is its commitment to conservation, education, and creating memorable animal encounters that inspire visitors of all ages. Open seasonally from late April through October, the zoo offers excellent value with reasonable admission prices and plenty of shaded areas and dining options for a full day of family fun.
Check out the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo website for more info!
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
Easily accessible from downtown Fort Wayne the Botanical Conservatory is the perfect place to relax for a few hours.
There are seasonal displays, four outdoor gardens, a tropical garden, and more! There is an educational kids' area perfect for learning more about biodiversity and our plant life.
You can find out more by checking out the Botanical Conservatory website.
The Landing
The Landing is an amazing multi-use facility with restaurants, shopping, open air spaces to relax, and apartments in the heart of Downtown Fort Wayne.
You will find Mercado which is one of our favorite Fort Wayne restaurants, along with Nawa, Marquee, Dana's, Bru Burger Bar, and more.
There are fun cute boutiques you do not want to miss checking out.
DORA Districts
The DORA District is the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area which allows you to purchase drinks from approved vendors and enjoy a stroll through a designated area in Downtown Fort Wayne!
Electric Works is a new DORA district that was recently added! All indoor and outdoor spaces on the campus are part of DORA at Electric Works.
Check out Visit Fort Wayne's Website to see the current list of DORA Authorized Vendors.
We picked up drinks at The Landing and explored the area looking for fun Fort Wayne Murals to mark off in our Fort Wayne Public Art Trail app that helps you find murals and earn points for visiting them.
Pinhouse Social
Pinhouse Social is located at The Fairfield, a multi-level entertainment and dining complex in Fort Wayne.
Pinhouse Social has duck pin bowling lanes along with arcade games. They have a large menu with options for everyone to enjoy.
Upstairs you will find Urban Golf, a state of the art golf lounge with 8 simulator bays. Play iconic golf courses, digital games, or practice your swing.
Vera Bradley Annual Sale
The Vera Bradley Annual Sale is a an unbelievable 5 day event with up to 70% off Vera Bradley retail prices.
This is on my Fort Wayne Bucket List to make happen soon! Tickets are required for the 1st three days of the event.
100,000 square feet of Vera Bradley shopping fun...yes please!
Downtown Boutique Shopping
During my recent trip to Fort Wayne we wandered around downtown exploring the boutique shopping scene and it was amazing.
There are so many unique boutiques offering something for everyone. A few of my favorites include:
- Creative Women of the World - 125 W Wayne St.
- The Find - 133 W. Wayne St.
- Urban Hippie - 111 W Columbia Street, Suite 101
- Visit Fort Wayne Visitor Center Shop - 927 S Harrison
Make sure to leave space in your suitcase to bring back your finds!
Science Central
Fun for all ages can be found at Science Central! Explore over 120 hands-on and educational exhibits.
Watch the world rotate at the Science on a Sphere exhibit. Kids and adults will have a great time learning about science at Science Central.
You can find out more by checking out the Science Central Website.
Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Fort Wayne is an art town! From the 50 bike rack installations to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art you can find art on every corner of Fort Wayne.
The Museum of Art features a gorgeous glass display in the summer, an outdoor sculpture area, and more. They have a diverse span of art from contemporary to historical art.
I was mesmerized by the amazing array of art that is showcased at the museum. From paintings to glass sculptures the museum has a little bit of everything.
This is not a stuffy art museum with paintings that are abstract and blah. This museum is filled with contemporary and historic art from the United States.
You can find out more by checking out the Fort Wayne Museum of Art website.
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Ok, I am guessing you didn't expect me to list a library as a thing to do, but it really is!
If you have even a glimmer of interest in researching your family genealogy this is the place to go!
I have always wondered about our family history but was never sure how to go about researching our genealogy.
During my trip to Fort Wayne Indiana, we had the opportunity to visit the Fort Wayne Indiana Genealogy Center and it was amazing. The center is the largest public genealogy library in the country.
The Genealogy Center can be found at the Allen County Public Library right downtown Fort Wayne.
You can easily spend hours or weeks at the genealogy center researching your family history. The $65 million dollar facility houses over 456,000 print volumes and 660,000 microfilm resources.
This doesn't even include the amazing amount of genealogy resources you can access online for free during your visit.
The library includes family and local histories from the United States, Virgin Islands, Ireland, and Eastern Europe. The collection includes ship passenger lists, military regimental histories, southern plantation records, Native American census, and tribal records just to name a few things.
The trained genealogy staff is a wealth of information and help. The amount of information available to research family histories is growing daily with the increase in technology that is available. The library staff can help you dive into this massive amount of information and help you research smarter!
During my visit, the librarians helped me located my maternal grandparent's wedding registry and certificate. It is hard to describe the feeling of seeing my grandparent's handwriting and seeing their marriage certificate. That moment made me want to spend hours at the genealogy center diving into my family history. We located my great-great-great-grandparents on a census.
I learned that one of my relatives had 13 kids. I would love to see how the family tree branches out and track my family history. I see future visits happening soon to the genealogy center. There are so many great resources available during a visit.
One of the writers who was with me was able to find a photo of one of her relatives during our visit. Another writer found out a relative was an egg salesman in the early 1900s. So many pieces of family history are in the library.
The Fort Wayne Indiana Genealogy Center is located at 900 Library Plaza downtown Fort Wayne.
You can find out more by visiting the Fort Wayne Genealogy Library website. If you are interested in starting researching, your family history check out their tips on getting started and genealogy forms. They helped me out a ton!
Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum
We didn't have the chance to visit the Firefighters museum during our visit but it looked really great!
Located in historic Engine House No. 3 the museum showcases artifacts used by Fort Wayne's earliest firefighters.
Two stories of equipment and photos from 160 years of fire fighting in Fort Wayne.
You can find out more by checking out the Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum website.
Sculptural bike racks located around Fort Wayne
Creative and whimsical functional art pieces designed by local artists, transforming ordinary bike racks into Instagram-worthy sculptures that celebrate Fort Wayne's character and bike-friendly culture.
Visit the Embassy Theatre for a show
Check out Broadway at the Embassy or a concert at the Embassy theatre. This historic theater was built in 1928. To find out more check out the Embassy Theater website.
Fort Wayne Visitor Center
To learn more about things to do in Fort Wayne check out the Visit Fort Wayne website or stop by their visitor center located at 927 S. Harrison Street in downtown Fort Wayne.
Visit Fort Wayne also has a mobile site that is great for accessing your phone while in town. Check out the current city calendar, hotel packages, coupons and so much more!
Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball
Catching a Fort Wayne TinCaps game at Parkview Field is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend an evening in the city. This Class-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres plays in one of the best ballparks in minor league baseball, featuring a picturesque downtown setting with skyline views.
The stadium consistently ranks among the top minor league venues in America, offering affordable ticket prices, delicious ballpark food, and entertaining between-inning promotions that keep families engaged throughout the game.
Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan or just looking for a fun night out, the friendly atmosphere and accessibility make TinCaps games a Fort Wayne tradition that appeals to visitors and locals alike.
Fort Wayne, Indiana: Quick Reference Guide
🎨 Arts & Culture
- Fort Wayne Murals & Public Art Trail - Various locations throughout downtown Fort Wayne
- Fort Wayne Museum of Art - 311 E Main St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Sculptural Bike Racks - Various locations throughout downtown Fort Wayne
- Embassy Theatre - 125 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
👨👩👧👦 Family Attractions
- Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - 3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
- Science Central - 1950 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
- Promenade Park - 202 W Superior St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball (Parkview Field) - 1301 Ewing St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
🌿 Nature & Outdoors
- Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory - 1100 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Sweet Breeze Riverboat Tours - Departs from Promenade Park, 202 W Superior St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
🍽️ Fort Wayne Dining & Entertainment
Check out our Fort Wayne Restaurant guide for epic places to dine out.
- The Landing - 300-400 block of Columbia St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- DORA Districts - Various locations in downtown Fort Wayne
- Pinhouse Social - 311 E Superior St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
🛍️ Shopping
- Vera Bradley Annual Sale - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805
- Downtown Boutique Shopping - Various locations in downtown Fort Wayne
📚 Special Interest
- Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center - 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum - 226 W Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
ℹ️ Visitor Information
- Fort Wayne Visitor Center - 927 S Harrison St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
- Visit Fort Wayne Website - visitfortwayne.com
Where to stay in Fort Wayne
The Bradley - a comfortable luxury experience in the heart of the city. A modern design mixed with trendsetting designs makes this a hotel you want to spend time in. Book HERE
Hilton Fort Wayne - Located next to the Grand Wayne Convention Center the Hilton in Fort Wayne is close to tons of attractions. Book HERE
Additional Indiana Resources
We visited Fort Wayne during a hosted press trip. All opinions expressed are our own.
Renee
Oh wow! There is so much to do! I love that! The zoo and the science central area would be the first places I would go to if I visited! I am a science junkie, so I would spend hours in there .
Tammilee
Science Central is a must for a science junkie. I studied science in college and was fascinated with the displays they had. I could have easily spent hours exploring Science Central.
Emma Spellman
Looks like we live about 3 hours from here. I love discovering new museums and things to do with my family. My two boys are big fire fighter fans, so I am sure they would love to see all of the uniforms and things used.
Becca Wilson
I have never been anywhere like these places. We don't have many like them here in Virginia but the zoo and the kids center. If I ever make it to Fort Wayne I will definitely be checking these out. They look like so much fun!
Katie
I love the look of the Embassy Theater! Classic theaters or movie houses are just so cool. It's especially enjoyable to catch a show or a vintage movie revival in that type of venue.
Cara (
Your post reminded me that my father's side of the family has relatives in Indiana...but I've never visited them yet! The places you posted are wonderful places to see. It'll be a wonderful vacation if I do get to go there. Thanks for sharing!
Kendra
You had me at the Children's Museum, I've pinned to my family travel board. These are great ideas for Fort Wayne, if I ever find myself there :). Thanks for sharing.
Cat Davis
When we lived in IL we were so close to Indiana but never visited. We just weren't sure what there was to do there. I think I would have really liked visiting the Embassy Theatre for a show with my husband.
Lynzy
I've never been to Indiana, but we would love to be able to travel more in the new year! This place looks like a lot of fun and I would love to visit!
wholehealedandhappy
WOW ... your post made me really think a bit more when I mutter there is nothing to do! Fort Wayne looks like a great family vacation spot... thee are heaps of interesting things to do. I never thought of looking into my ancestory before but I think it would be super interesting.