Fort Wayne, Indiana

1. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory

Come and smell the orange blossoms while the gardens of Fort Wayne are sleeping their peaceful slumber covered by a soft cushion of snow.

Visit the magical world of flowers, bamboos, ferns, and orchids, all thriving year round in the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 25,000 square feet of indoor home for 1,200 plants of more than 500 species and over 72 types of cacti.

The showcase garden features special exhibits that change with the seasons and some permanent inhabitants such as bamboo, gardenias, creeping fig and hibiscus.

The tropical garden will delight you with a cascading waterfall, a goldfish pond, bananas, orange trees, orchids, bromeliads and even a chocolate tree.

Desert garden is a little oasis of Southeast with cacti, prickly pear, jojoba, mesquite, and other desert dwellers. And when the snow melts, come and enjoy the conservatory’s four outdoor gardens full of seasonal, native greenery.

1100 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-427-6440

2. Fort Wayne Museum of Art

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art collects, presents, and preserves American decorative and fine art through exhibitions that explore connections between artists from diverse national and ethnic backgrounds and their artwork. Some of the museum’s most distinguished collections are Steven Sorman’s Archives, a collection of American Cut Glass and Indiana Impressionism.

The museum also hosts a range of important revolving exhibits from its own collections as well as visiting museums. The museum’s lending library has more than 8,000 books and periodicals on art and culture available for the general public, students, and scholars. The museum’s Paradigm Gallery shop offers arts and crafts of 75 national and regional artists working in a range of media.

311 E Main St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-422-6467

3. Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

From African Journey to Australian Adventure and Indonesian Rainforest, you can travel around the world while visiting more than 1000 animals living happily at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo , one of the best zoos in the country. At Central Zoo, stop at Monkey Island, where cute capuchin monkeys are being silly. At Sea Lion Beach, watch the feeding frenzy take place twice a day, while at the pool next door, you can see a bunch of penguins having fun.

Visit river otters, lemurs, and red pandas, play with goats and cows at the Indiana Family Farm, take a pony ride on Little Poof or take a ride on the 1860's mini train. Down the African safari trail, you can feed the giraffes, admire 400-pound lions, or listen to yacking hyenas. On the Australian Adventure, visit the reef and its inhabitants and watch the sharks cruising in their own enormous aquarium. And that is not all - there are 40 acres of wonderful natural habitats to explore. If you are looking for fun things to do in Fort Wayne with kids, this is a great place to visit.

3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808, 260-427-6800

4. Parkview Field

Parkview Field is the beating heart of Fort Wayne. The home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps, a minor league baseball team, the stadium welcomes more than 400,000 baseball fans coming to see the games every year.

Beyond that, this public facility that offers 1/3 mile laps to runners and walkers receives another 100,000 visitors yearly who come to enjoy other activities in the field, from open-air rock and country concerts and big festivals such as Fort4Fitness and YMCA Healthy Kids day to weekly farmers market, wedding receptions, and business events. The field also has over 11,000-square feet of indoor meeting space. Parkview Field is open 365 days a year.

1301 Ewing St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-482-6400

5. Old Fort Wayne

The US Army built Old Fort Wayne in 1794 at the intersection of three rivers – St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee – in an effort to put an end to the bloody war with local Native American tribes. After the tribes were defeated, the fort served as a trading post for the numerous pioneers who continued to arrive.

The reconstructed Fort Wayne is a great place to start your visit. You can walk through the grounds at any time, however to look inside the buildings, you will have to visit during one of the special events.

6. The Embassy Theatre

Perry Como, Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Doris Day and Duke Ellington are just some of the greats who have entertained Fort Wayne residents from the stage of the magnificent Embassy Theatre, as the Embassy Theatre was called when it was completed in 1928. Built as a silent movie palace and popular vaudeville house, the Emboyd offered the best entertainment available at the time, including a famous Page theatre pipe organ.

The Emboyd and its attached seven-story, 250-room Indiana Hotel survived the death of silent movies and vaudeville to become the most popular Fort Wayne venue for numerous theatre productions including those from Broadway, concerts of all kinds, and high quality educational programs for the young. The magnificent historic building and its famous organ have been restored to their original glory and are today the pride of Forth Wayne. It serves as the venue for all kinds of events, from weddings and corporate functions to the annual Festival of Trees.

125 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-424-5665

7. Science Central

You might be worried about the kind of science they are doing at Science Central when you see their tall colorful smokestack. Not to worry – it is a remnant from the old power plant of City Light & Power, which used to occupy the large building. Today, it is the place where kids and their parents, teachers, and friends come to have some hands-on fun with science and technology. It is the place where there is no line between fun and learning – everything is fun, and everything will teach you something. There are more than 130 hands-on permanent exhibits at Science Central. If you are wondering what to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana with kids, this is a great place to explore.

Visit the tidal pool and interact with all kinds of sea creatures from the Atlantic Ocean, learn to identify a rock, mineral, fossil, or seashell with scientists at the Swap Shop, or let your little ones have fun in Kids Central with the giant piano keyboard or a water table. Check the schedule for the fun visiting exhibits, or find out more about interactive video teleconferencing, the best way to enjoy Science Central if you are in a remote location.

1950 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805, 260-424-2400

8. Lakeside Park & Rose Garden

Lakeside Park & Rose Garden started out as a low-lying area prone to frequent flooding because of the St. Joseph River until its reconstruction, which began in 1912. Today, it is one of the city’s favorite wedding and party destinations with two great pavilions, a wonderful kids’ playground, basketball and tennis courts, a lovely strolling path that loops around the garden, great fishing in the Lakeside Pond, and the world-renowned rose garden.

Rose garden is an enchanting world of fragrances and colors with more than 1,500 roses displayed in beds and on whimsical pergolas. Reflecting pools magnify the beauty of the rose blossoms and complement the profusion of thousands of lush annuals planted around the site.

9. The History Center

The History Center is home to the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, its museum, and collections – and the building itself plays the largest part in telling visitors their history. Built in the 1893, the History Center building was originally Fort Wayne and Allen County’s City Hall building.

It became the History Center in 1980 and now houses, preserves, and shares historic artifacts, images, and documents that tell the story of its fascinating history to all visitors. From the people who lived there to the important places they have, the History Center encapsulates the heart of Fort Wayne with over 26,000 artifacts for visitors to appreciate.

302 E. Berry Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-426-2882

10. Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum

The Fort Wayne Firefighters' Museum was once the city’s largest firehouse. It started with two bays for six men, four horses, a hose wagon, and a chemical wagon, what was then Engine House #3, and then more than doubled in size to meet the growth of the city’s business district. In 1972, a new modern central fire station was built, and Engine House #3 was retired.

Two years later, the Fort Wayne Firefighters’ Museum was organized; visitors are invited to the old firehouse to understand and enjoy Fort Wayne, its fire-fighting history, and the men and women who all played a role in the past and present. The Fort Wayne Fire Department has used almost all of the artifacts, and many were donations made by firefighters or their families. Along with the many artifacts on display, the museum also teaches fire safety.

226 West Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46802, 260-426-0051