How to Spend 48 Hours in Fort Wayne, Indiana

The Bradley
Piggybacking off the hometown handbag, luggage and accessory company founded in 1982, this boutique hotel celebrates the whimsical patterns, prints and colors Vera Bradley is famous for. Fans of the brand wouldn’t dream of staying anywhere else while in town, but the accommodations are perfectly comfortable and appropriate for families, couples and business travelers as well. Vera Bradley co-founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard collaborated on the design details, treating the project like her own guesthouse and bringing in contributions from local creatives. The downtown location offers proximity to the Arts United campus and bustling restaurants at The Landing, while on-site dining options include classic Italian American cuisine at Arbor and small plates that complement craft cocktails at Birdie’s Rooftop Bar. 204 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802, 260/428-4018, bradleyhotel.com

Fort Wayne Zoo
Marking its 60th anniversary in 2025, this 40-acre animal attraction is the largest tourism draw in the northeastern Indiana region, attracting around 650,000 visitors each year. More than 1,500 animals populate the Central Zoo, African Journey, Asian Trek, Australian Adventure, Indiana Family Farm and Coastal Cove habitats, all thoughtfully designed with the needs of young visitors and those with sensory challenges in mind. Wild Encounters offer the chance to go behind the scenes to meet the zookeepers and learn more about your favorite animals, while the Savanna Summit rock-climbing wall, new paddle boats, treetop sky safari ride and animal-feeding opportunities fill out the day’s adventure. The Fort Wayne Zoo is open daily spring through October, as well as weekends in November. 3411 Sherman Blvd., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46808, 260/427-6800, fwzoo.com

Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island Wiener Stand
Family-owned and operating continuously since 1916, not much has changed at this little downtown dining landmark over the past century, and that’s just how the locals like it. The sit-down hot dog stand is obviously doing something right, since a line of hungry customers usually stretches out the door and down the block, all waiting their turn to feast on the spot’s signature coneys, burgers and bowls of chili. The restaurant serves up a whopping average of 2,000 hot dogs each day, made fresh to order and requiring more than 70 pounds of hand-chopped onions for topping. Just don’t harbor any delusions about asking for the recipe. Only two of the current owners actually know what goes into the secret sauce, and they’re not telling. 131 W. Main St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802, 260/424-2997 fortwaynesfamousconeyisland.com

Sweetwater
Over the decades since he founded Sweetwater in 1979, Fort Wayne philanthropist Chuck Surack has built not just a business, but a whole culture, growing the company into the largest online retailer of musical instruments and professional audio gear in the United States. The expansive showroom is a playground for musicians, well-stocked with keyboards, drum kits, guitars and basses all begging to be picked up and played. Go ahead, sampling the wares isn’t just welcome here, it’s highly encouraged. The customer service is top notch, and with an on-site cafeteria, recording studios, music lessons, indoor and outdoor performance stages and a curly slide connecting the first and second floors, you might just wind up spending the whole day here. 5501 U.S. Highway 30 W., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46818, 800/222-4700, sweetwater.com

Fort Wayne Museum of Art
The roots of this inspiring organization stretch back to 1888 when it took shape as an informal arts school before being incorporated as a museum in 1921. Now part of the vibrant downtown Arts Campus Fort Wayne cultural district, this modern facility curates at least 20 contemporary and historical art exhibitions across its 21,000 square feet of public programming space each year. The nationally recognized permanent Glass Wing is particularly dazzling, with three galleries showcasing around 100 studio pieces from the over 800-item collection. The family-friendly John S. and James L. Knight Learning Center allows guests to play and create, and the tour continues outdoors, where a series of large-scale sculptures scattered across the museum grounds are ready to be admired. 311 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, Indiana 46802, 260/422-6467, fwmoa.org

For more information about these and other destinations in Fort Wayne, Indiana, go to visitfortwayne.com.