Museums & Fun Attractions
When it comes to cultural attractions, Fort Wayne boasts many great museums and historic sites that you can visit on tours, as well as many family-friendly attractions where you can enjoy a fun day out. These include:
-Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory: If you’re looking for outdoor attractions, visiting this botanical garden is one of the cheap things to do in Fort Wayne IN with the family (it costs around $5 per adults and $3 for kids). You can spend a nice and pleasant afternoon at the botanical garden marveling at the beautiful exotic garden, butterfly exhibits and floral displays.
-Historic Fort Wayne: visiting Historic Fort Wayne is one of the most popular things to do in town hands down! Exploring the fort is an enjoyable experience, especially if you haven’t been to an 1800’s fort before.
You can enjoy guided tours of the fort and visit all the different areas such as the barracks, the old guard house and the post hospital, as well as visit the Tuskegee Airmen Museum which is housed inside the fort as well. Besides these, the fort also holds many interesting re enactments and live pioneer demonstrations during the summer months
-Allen County Courthouse: is another Fort Wayne historic site that it’s open to the public for tours. If you’re interested in art and history, you enjoy a tour (for around $2) of the courthouse to see its beautiful art works.
-Diehm Wildlife Museum: is located nearby the Children’s Zoo, and it’s another of the cheap things to do in Fort Wayne IN (costing around $2). The museum is an education place and boasts interesting natural exhibits and many stuffed animal exhibits on display.
-Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: If you’re traveling to Fort Wayne in the spring or summer, visiting the children’s zoo is one of the most popular things to do in Fort Wayne with kids. This zoo is not only one of the best in the country, but it also boasts a great African safari experience. (admission is around $13 per adults and $8 for kids)
-Science Central is one of the best attractions you can visit in Fort Wayne, and one of the best places in Fort Wayne Indiana where you can spend a great day out with family and friends.
Science Central boasts lots of educational programs such as summer camps, fun workshops, kids’ playing areas, lots of interactive exhibits and hands on activities. (it costs around $7 to get in and that is per adult and kid)
Walking & Sightseeing Tours
One of the cheap things to do in Fort Wayne IN is to explore and visit the city’s historic sites and streets on a walking tour. Most of Fort Wayne’s sites are scattered throughout the downtown area. For instance:
-Along West Columbia Street you’ll find old fashioned storefronts and street lamps.
-At 226 West Washington Blvd, you’ll find the Firehouse Café, which is housed in one of Fort Wayne’s old fire stations.
-Lincoln Tower (116 E Berry St): the gold doors and art deco of Lincoln Bank Tower’s lobby offer another sightseeing and photo opportunity.
-Embassy Theatre (across Grand Wayne convention center): is another beautiful example of a 1930’s movie place. Inside, you’ll find an stunning Grande Page Pipe Organ.
Recreational Activities
Enjoying recreational activities such as picnicking and swimming are another of the cheap things to do in Fort Wayne IN, especially on a warm day.
Fort Wayne boasts a lovely 25-mile scenic trail (Rivergreenway Trail) where you can enjoy biking, walking and visit many points of interest along the way such as the Old Fort and Johnny Appleseed’s Grave.
Fort Wayne also boasts many parks and green areas such as: Old Fort Park, Headwater Park and Lawton Park. The latter is one of the best family parks in Fort Wayne as it boasts a playground, an skateboard park and a small botanical garden.
Fort Wayne also boasts a few swimming pools such as Swinney Park pool (on W. Washington Blvd), and Memorial Park pool (on Parnell Ave.) where you can cool off on a hot summer’s day.
Entertainment, events and festivals
If you’re a sports fan, you’ll be glad to know that Fort Wayne is home to Parview Field where you can catch a game of minor league baseball.
Another of the most popular cheap things to do in Fort Wayne IN is attending Fort Wayne’s events and festivals. For instance, Headwater Park is the site where many of Fort Wayne’s annual events such as St Patrick’s Day (March 12), Germanfest (June 8-11) and Greekfest (June 23-26) take place
Grand Wayne Convention Center is another great place where you can catch special events, seminars and live shows such as FAME Festival in March 12, so be sure to check in what’s on when in Fort Wayne!
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