This Overlooked Midwest City Is the Perfect Family-Friendly Destination—Here’s Why

One of the best things about living in the Midwest is how accessible other cities are. From where I'm located in Cincinnati, cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Louisville, Indianapolis, are all doable day trips, along with numerous small towns, national parks, and even the beach—Ohioans know and love the North Coast.

I've also discovered some hidden gems in the Midwest that folks are sleeping on—mid-sized destinations that offer big-city attractions with small-town sensibility. Places that are affordable, accessible, primed for a fun and family-friendly vacation.

My kids' spring break fell in mid-March and Fort Wayne, Indiana, has long been on my radar as a place to experience. From beautiful parks and indoor entertainment to impressive museums and a fabulous food scene, there's no shortage of family-friendly things to do in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Here are some highlights:

1. The Midwest’s Largest Laser Tag and Arcade? It’s in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Midwest weather is always a roll of the dice, and having indoor options is a must. Rainy day options abound in Fort Wayne; Lazer X and Crazy Pinz were both big hits with all four of my kids. Lazer X Fort Wayne is billed as the Midwest's largest laser tag and arcade, two things my kids could happily do all day.

Crazy Pinz, meanwhile, is 80,000 square feet of fun and features 24 bowling lanes, indoor go-karts, a ropes course, mini golf, and about a million arcade games. My kids were thoroughly exhausted by the end of the day, in the best way.

2. Accessible Parks, Preserves, Zoos Abound in Fort Wayne

For biophiles like me who love nothing more than being immersed in nature, LC Nature Park is a total treasure. This free attraction boasted numerous trails through a variety of environments (including a dune forest) and wild bison and elk.

The Fort Wayne Zoo might not be as well known as other Midwest zoos, but it should be. The variety of animals at the zoo is impressive; check out the Australian Adventure where you can see a dingo and Tasmanian devil... in Indiana, nonetheless. Having three reptiles as pets, my kids were really into the variety of reptiles (and amphibians).

Promenade Park might be Fort Wayne's most glorious crown jewel, however. Offering million-dollar views of Fort Wayne's trio of rivers—St. Marys, the St. Joseph, and the Maumee—this public park features a river walk and amphitheatre, plus easy access to kayaking, canoeing, boat rides, bike trails. There's also a canopy trail that's perfect for kids who are always moving.

3. There's an Epic Family-Friendly Science Museum in Fort Wayne

Museums are always a hit with my kids and I love having indoor options for family vacations because here in the Midwest, you never know when inclement weather strikes. Happily, Fort Wayne is very stacked in this department. Science Central is a STEAM powerhouse sure to capture the imaginations of anyone with a curious mind.

It's located in a historic power plant in Fort Wayne, which is super cool, and the exhibits are all incredibly immersive, accessible, and hands on. Having kids between the ages of 8 to 15, this museum really did have something for all ages—the ball wall was a big hit.

4. Fort Wayne Has Robust Arts and Theatre Options

The arts are big in Fort Wayne, and theatre patrons in Indiana likely know the eponymous Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. Do not sleep on this theatre company; Fort Wayne Civic Theatre's production of "Footloose" was absolutely a winner. This is one of our favorite musicals and this production was awesome.

Not only was the show great, but the intentionality of the performance in terms of accessibility (the show was presented in collaboration with the Fort Wayne Dance Collective and featured an inclusive cast through staging, choreography, and a completely universal design for audiences and performers of all abilities) was really inspiring. If you're planning a visit to Fort Wayne and are into theatre, definitely take a look at the Fort Wayne Civic Center schedule—this troupe is absolutely worth planning a trip around.

For fine art lovers, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art is world class and quite possibly one of Indiana's most captivating hidden gems. With a collection of nearly 8,000 American paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs, this art museum is home to numerous notable works of art. Ongoing displays like "Classic Toys and Americana" and "Bronze: The Timeless Medium" are the kinds of experiences worth experiencing again and again.

5. Fort Wayne’s Food Scene Is Top Notch

My family is vegetarian and I was so thrilled by the abundance of veg-friendly options. Loving Cafe is a plant-based restaurant full of delicious options (my oldest loved the Impossible Burger and the fries were addicting). Three Fires Pizza was a huge hit with my kids and Moo Over, an all-vegan ice cream shop, was the cherry on top of an epic lunch in Fort Wayne.

And speaking as someone with food allergies, I was really impressed by all of the options available for us. Hop River Brewing was another winner (the Vegan Loaded Tots were 100% kid tested and approved) and Nawa was an adult favorite—the curries were exceptional.

One of my favorite hacks when traveling with kids is visiting local farmers markets. I love supporting local growers and artisans, and can easily build a meal out of fresh produce and, depending on the type of market, a la carte items from local restaurants and vendors. Fort Wayne is home to several seasonal and year-round markets and we enjoyed the YLNI Farmers Market during our trip.

6. There Are Endless Day Trip Options From Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne is located in northeastern Indiana, just 2.5 hours east of Indiana Dunes National Park and 2 hours north of Indianapolis. If you're traveling from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis—especially with kids—definitely plan a detour to Uranus Fudge Factory in Richmond. While this roadside attraction is not unique to Indiana (the original is in Missouri along Route 66), it's a fun detour that was a big hit with my kids who definitely enjoyed all the puns and ridiculous humor.

Indianapolis is, of course, a destination in and of itself and the Indianapolis Zoo is nationally acclaimed; the International Chimpanzee Complex is especially awesome and fun. We also tried fowling (a football-bowling mashup) at The Fowling Warehouse Indianapolis and in honor of The Hoosier State's racing legacy, visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Is Fort Wayne the Best Family Friendly Destination in the Midwest? We Say Yes.

Bottom line: if you're looking for a fun and affordable place for a family-friendly vacation in the Midwest, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a destination that checks all of the boxes and will absolutely impress you. In terms of variety of accessible activities and attractions with all-ages appeal, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more charming Midwest getaway.

Many thanks to both Visit Fort Wayne and Visit Indy for hosting my family's adventures in Indiana; we've a list of must-dos for our next trip to the Hoosier State!