How to Spend 48 Hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana

From a Vera Bradley-themed hotel to a vibrant art museum, the Hoosier State’s second-largest city offers a fun place for a fall weekend getaway.

The Sock Monkey Museum

This quirky museum in Long Grove, Illinois, celebrates the stuffed animals that generations of mothers created for their children using a pair of easy-to-acquire socks.

Several sock monkeys at The Sock Monkey Museum in Long Grove, Illinois (photo courtesy of The Sock Monkey Museum)

Cloverleaf Pizza

This Eastpointe, Michigan, spot has been serving up the Motor City’s signature pizza style for decades, and it’s still operated by the family who founded it.

Pizza with tomatoes and herbs from Cloverleaf Pizza in Detroit, Michigan (photo courtesy of Cloverleaf Pizza)

Cherry Tree Inn B&B

Plan a couples getaway to this charming bed-and-breakfast in Woodstock, Illinois, that had a starring role in the 1993 film “Groundhog Day.”

Common space at Cherry Tree Inn B&B in Woodstock, Illinois (photo courtesy of Cherry Tree Inn B&B))

Harris Hill Soaring

For those who want to fly like a bird, this club in Elmira, New York, offers scenic and serence flights on professionally piloted, motorless two-seat gliders.

Glider at Harris Hill Soaring in Elmira, New York (photo by Michael Goldstein))

Vagabond Kitchen

This restaurant in Wheeling, West Virginia, showcases chef Matt Welsch’s unique approach to some of the Mountain State’s favorite dishes.

Fruit pie with whipped cream at Vagabond Kitchen in Wheeling, West Virginia (photo courtesy of Vagabond Kitchen))

Castle Noel

Mark Klaus’ museum in Medina, Ohio, is a tribute to holiday memories, offering a way to experience the magic of Christmas all year long. 

Child on slide at Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio (photo by Laura Watilo Blake)

Copper & Kings

This distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, makes brandy in the heart of bourbon country, blasting its barrels with a steady dose of rock ’n’ roll music. 

Bartender with brandy varieties at Copper & Kings in Louisville, Kentucky (photo by Terri Colby)

Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

Ride this trail in Elkhart County, Indiana, during the fall for a flavor of life in these rural communities located within the third-largest Amish settlement in the United States.

People biking on Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in Elkhart County, Indiana (photo by Danny Graber))

Gaylord City Elk Park

This wildlife park in Gaylord, Michigan, offers three public viewing areas where travelers can catch a glimpse of the community’s city-owned elk herd. 

Elk at Gaylord City Elk Park in Gaylord, Michigan (photo courtesy of Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau))

Finger Lakes Cider House

This spot in Interlaken, New York, pairs the scenic beauty of the region with ciders crafted on-site at its working farm.

Person pouring cider into glass at Finger Lakes Cider House in Interlaken, New York (photo by Hannah Stokes))
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