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See P Things to Do: Along the Trails - Alabama Golf; Kokomo, IN Art; California Wine See Pgs. 12, 18, 28
Go, Do, See: Seven Safe Adventures in Ft. Wayne
By Jessa Campbell Marketing Manager www.visitfortwayne.com
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FORT WAYNE - a city known for its aff ordability, convenient location, and quality family-friendly activities - is the perfect destination for a quick getaway this summer! <Include your why here!> In this Midwest town, you can still enjoy a safe summer getaway with these 7 adventures.
1. Promenade Park
Opened in August 2019, Promenade Park is the perfect place to start your introduction (or reintroduction!) to Fort Wayne. This riverfront att raction is situated just north of downtown Fort Wayne along the St. Marys River, one of three rivers that meet in downtown Fort Wayne. Promenade Park is a one-ofa-kind park that joins natural rivers to a vibrant urban center, and features a variety of activities including a kids’ canal, ping pong and corn hole games, a tree top canopy trail, porch swings, and river access!
2. Riverfront Connectivity
Fort Wayne’s great natural features meet in the heart of the downtown area, where there is an unbelievable amount of fun you can enjoy along the 8 miles of riverfront via Fort Wayne’s unique riverfront connectivity. You can explore the historic Old Fort, located just steps away from Headwaters Park, our cultural and festival center in the summer. A short walk or bike ride provides easy access to Promenade Park via Fort Wayne’s Rivergreenway trail that follows along the riverfront (hence the name!)
3. Nationally ranked Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
Home to 40-acres of animals, rides, and beautifully landscaped grounds, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is a must-see on any visit to Fort Wayne. Discover life in four distinct sections that range from the African Journey to Australian Adventure and the Indonesian Rainforest each featuring rides and interactive activities around every turn. Plus, the zoo is aff ordable with rides only costing $2, and parking is FREE!
4. Picture Perfect Picnics
You can safely dine in the City of Restaurants by enjoying carryout and a picnic in one of the more than 80 award-winning parks including Promenade Park, which is conveniently located near many downtown restaurants.
5. Outdoor Spaces for Everyone
No matt er your adventure level, there is something for every outdoor enthusiast in Fort Wayne. Get out on downtown Fort
Seven Safe Adventures in Ft. Wayne
Wayne’s 8 miles of water trails or discover other water access points along Fort Wayne’s three rivers.
Adventure along more than 120 miles of trails by bike or foot. Fort Wayne’s trail system enables you to easily explore our parks and att ractions with a city-view ride itinerary.
With more than 80 city parks and a number of county parks and preserves, Fort Wayne’s outdoor spaces off er a variety of activities including trails following along
rivers, ravines, fl ower gardens, and marshland.
6. Public Art for All
Free to all, Fort Wayne is exploding with public art around every corner, alleyway, and park. Tour this creative city’s murals spanning whole alley walls in downtown, discover sculptures representing the city’s past and future, or enjoy 50 unique downtown sculptures that also double as bike racks!
And mark your calendars for an ing a city that has connected the east to the west through the Erie Canal, which can now be experienced in the newly revitalized area of downtown Fort Wayne called the Landing. Fort Wayne off ers numerous historic sites for you to explore, including the Old Fort - a replica of the third and fi nal Fort Wayne, and the gravesite for John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed.)
7. Historical Sites
Fort Wayne is known for be
We may all be itching to get out and aff ordably explore, but we are still worried about our health and safety. In Fort Wayne, this affordable and safe destination off ers ample opportunities for new adventures you can take with your family and still be safe11-day mural ly distanced from others! Learn festival, Sepmore about their safety precautember 8-18. tions and Indiana’s “Back on The Make It Track” plan at VisitFortWayne. Your Own com/TravelerInfo Mural Fest will feature 11-high-quality murals For more articles from local, regional, and national artists - all unveiled on Septemon Indiana ber 18th! >CLICK HERE
June, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -27-
Places to Go:
Kokomo Art Trails
Art is at the heart of the downtown experience. Whether you appreciate traditional arts, modern arts or public art, it’s all here for you to fi nd. The art scene in downtown has exploded over the past several years with colorful murals painted by local artists and students, sculptures, and art alley transformations. These are all outdoor experiences you can explore through self-guided tours while practicing social distancing.
All Alleys Lead to Art is an initiative in downtown Kokomo, transforming once dark alleyways into beautiful public art spaces. These alleys are great for solitude and refl ection and even public gatherings. Art mediums in these dynamic alley activations range from light art, traditional art, sculpture, murals, opportunities for performance art, and more. You can learn more at: www. greaterkokomo.com/downtown/allalleys-lead-to-art
The Kokomo Sculpture Walk opened in April 2019 and features nine large-scale sculptures from artists across the Midwest. Located throughout downtown along Kokomo trails and waterways, these sculptures on display for two years, giving visitors and residents the chance to explore unique art while enjoying the great outdoors. A self-guided tour of the Kokomo Sculpture Walk can be accessed by downloading the Visit Kokomo App.
The Industrial Heritage Trail and Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence are two paved trails that intersect in downtown Kokomo. Sculptures and large murals can be found by following these scenic walking/biking trails. Koko-Go Free Ride is a bike share program in downtown where the public can borrow bicycles (for both adults & kids) to explore downtown art, trails and parks. Open seasonally. To learn more, visit htt ps://www.kokogofreeride.com.
In addition, traditional art galleries and DIY art studios off er indoor experiences in downtown Kokomo. A number of local restaurants (many that off er outdoor dining options), unique retail and antique shops, parks, and beautiful architecture are all located throughout the downtown district.
To learn more, go to www.VisitKokomo.org.
Kokomo Art Trails
Just one hour south of St. Louis at the edge of the beautiful Ozark mountains you will discover this town, surrounded by nine of Missouri’s most scenic state parks. There are challenging golf courses, an extreme off-road recreation area, hiking trails, and 15 award-winning vineyards and wineries to make Farmington a the perfect destination for an extended weekend getaway.
Water Fun
The River’s Edge Splash Pad has opened for Spray ‘n Play and is available for use daily at no charge from 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Occupancy will be limited to 40 people.
Farmington Water Park is now
open for the 2020 season! Season passes are available now at the Farmington Civic Center!
Park Play
Missouri State Parks campgrounds are open for existing reservations. As you head out to your favorite state park or historic site, take advantage of the selfcheck-in option before you leave home, or at the campground, the day of your planned arrival. Learn how to self check-in here: https:// mostateparks.com/self-check-in.
ORV permits for St. Joe State Park must be purchased online prior to arriving to the park. Permits can be purchased for sameday use only. The capacity of ORV permits sold will be limited to allow space for proper social distancing in the riding area and the staging area parking lot. Learn more here: https://mostateparks.com/park/stjoe-state-park
Other than camping and off-roading our local state parks also offer hiking, fishing, kayaking, swimming, horse-back riding, biking, and so much more.
Animals
Critter Lane Petting Zoo is now open. Hours are Tuesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 6: p.m. Critter Lane is a 10- acre, self-guided, walkthrough petting zoo with hundreds of exotic animals from all over the world. It is the perfect opportunity to get close to our critter friends and interact with them.
Farmington Reopening, It’s a Perfect Getaway
Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary is offering General, Early Bird and VIP tours again on a limited basis. All tours require advanced reservations and will be limited to 10 people at a time. On-site lodging will also be re-opening but will be limiting the number of families in each house to one. To make your tour reservations please give us a call at 573-883-9909 or email us at info@crown-ridge.com.
Winery Visits
Whether you’re looking for something to do during a slow, casual Sunday drive, or you’re a connoisseur of fine wines, you won’t be disappointed at the variety of wineries and vineyards in the Farmington area. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere and beautiful landscapes on the wine trail.The Ste. Genevieve Trolley and most of the local wineries are open again. The Route du Vin is one of the most popular wine trails in the
Farmington area. The trail includes visiting five different wineries in the area that showcase one wine and food pairing each.Please check out each individual website or social media page for hours of operation and other details.
BBQ event held in September. Bring your lawn chairs and hang out at this family friendly festival. For more information, visit www.farmingtonb3.com.
Shopping
Many of our restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and speciality shops are now open for business. You can visit their websites or social media pages for details.
Blues, Brews, and BBQ
Mark your calendars and mke plans today to come back for a visit during the annual Farmington Blues, Brews, and
For more information on Missouri, >ClickHere
