If your social circles are anything like mine chances are you’ve seen women you know taking girls trips to a certain city with a strong western influence, where everyone comes home with a pair of cowboy boots. But I’ve been saying for a couple of years that if you’re looking for a charming city in the Midwest, I think Ft. Wayne, Indiana makes a great girlfriend’s destination- cowboy boots are not required.

Last week when my plane touched down in Ft. Wayne, a knowing grin stretched across my face. This was my second trip to Ft. Wayne, and I was thrilled to be invited back by the team at Visit Ft. Wayne.

I’d traveled to Ft. Wayne along with three other women in 2021 for the annual Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Classic (a golf and pickleball fundraising tournament) and I’d been taken by the vibrancy of the city. If you have no idea what you might find in Ft. Wayne, Indiana I’ll cut straight to the chase- Ft. Wayne has a food scene that rivals any of the big city names that you could throw my way. Though I do believe its close proximity to the big food-centric city of Chicago, Illinois, has had some influence on the Ft. Wayne culinary community.

There is also a dynamic art scene (including a public art tour) where you’ll see a wide variety of larger than life murals that will give you an instantaneous dopamine boost.

Where to stay– there are several places to stay in Ft. Wayne of course, but during both of my trips I’ve stayed at The Bradley. The Bradley is a fairly new boutique hotel with decor so exquisite it’s also a work of art. It boasts a rooftop bar with a cityscape view (tap here to check out Birdies). It also has a ground-level Italian American restaurant-The Arbor, a coffee bar that also serves pastries and other breakfast items, and a piano bar area. It’s located downtown (which feels welcoming and safe) and it’s perfectly situated for exploring the walkable mural-lined blocks surrounding the hotel.

Where to Dine (and Drink)-if you’re a foodie like me, like I mentioned in the intro you won’t have a hard time finding mouth-watering cuisine. Ft. Wayne has plentiful food trucks and restaurants that will not disappoint.

Here are a few that I visited on this trip and that I would say add to your own places to dine list. 

Mercado– described as west coast meets Chicano-inspired flavors, it’s perfect for lunch or a casual dinner. Though I didn’t order one this time, they also have a great spicy Margarita on the menu.

Proximo is another downtown restaurant within walking distance from The Bradley, where you can do brunch, lunch, or dinner and enjoy their upscale Latin Cuisine. Their brunch options are available all day.

Speaking of brunch, Ophelias is an adorable spot. It’s not quite within walking distance, but The Bradley Hotel does have a bike rental service. Ophelias is in an old house turned restaurant with plenty of charm. They also serve dinner.

If you’re looking for a fine dining restaurant, Joseph Decuis is an award-winning fork to table restaurant, where you can choose your own handcrafted Wagyu Steak knife, before enjoying a fine cut courtesy of the Esshelman’s (the founders and owners of Decuis) family farm. Joseph Decuis isn’t technically in Ft. Wayne, it’s located in Roanoke about 10 minutes southwest and worth the trip.

If you enjoy a good wine experience, The Country Heritage Winery (and chocolate shop) is the perfect place to pop into while you’re perusing downtown. Here you can enjoy a wine tasting flight paired with DeBrand chocolates if you’re craving something sweet, or with cheese and meats if savory is more your thing. They also have a full fledged vineyard and winery also in Ft. Wayne. It’s a 20 minute drive from the wine bar according to the Sommelier.

And if you’re looking for nightlife there are several great options. Though I didn’t make it The Club Room at the Clyde for live music like I’d hoped, I will be sure to add it to the agenda again for my next visit.

Where to Shop– If you’d like to do a little shopping on your trip there are plenty of places for a little retail therapy. As a matter of fact, one of my all time favorite market style boutiques is goodMRKT, in Ft. Wayne. They had a popup shop for a little while in NYC and they’re planning to open a store in Nashville soon, but the Ft. Wayne location is the original goodMRKT, and as the name implies the merchants that are featured are indeed doing good by giving back to underserved communities in major ways. You can read more about them here. Harry Cunningham is the man behind this incredible initiative. He has an impeccable eye for style and design and a big heart for connecting with purpose. He also has a podcast that you can find here.

goodMRKT is situated in the Jefferson Pointe- Ft. Wayne’s outdoor shopping center, so there are lots of other upscale shops to visit too. But don’t forget the small downtown shops. There’s plenty of shopping to be done there too. 

What to See and Do

The Public Art Tour will allow you to explore more than 150 pieces of public art on Ft. Wayne’s digital Public Art Trail. There are QR codes next to each exhibit and some even have tactile exploration for those that are sight impaired. Some of my favorite murals were by Bryan Ballinger of Veggie Tales Fame, Theoplis, also known as Fresh Laundry, and the selfie favorite Breath Mural, by Matthew Plett, which serves as a good reminder to slow down and stay present. If you ask me that’s the feeling that permeates while visiting Ft. Wayne.

Electric Works– A lively collection of co-working spaces, eateries, and markets, innovatively housed within the re-imagined former campus of General Electric. Tap here to learn more. It’s genius!

The Botanical Conservatory, The Ft. Wayne Museum of Art, and the Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo (a Kulture Kid Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue) are also popular attractions. I wasn’t able to squeeze them in on this trip but I’ll definitely check them out on my next visit.

While there are plenty of concerts, ball games, and festivals, just like most cities. Ft. Wayne Is the only place that hosts the Annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. This is the big event that drew me and so many other women (and some men) in on this particular week.

Ft. Wayne, Indiana is home to Vera Bradley– If you follow me on social media you’re very familiar with my love for their colorful prints and quilted cotton handbags. And if you’ve ever spent time in an airport chances are you’ve seen their travel duffles parading by. More than likely you own your own Vera bag so I’ll skip past the intro (but if you’re not familiar tap here).

Every year with the exception of 20-22 (due to Covid) approximately 50,000 people descend on the city which welcomes them with open arms for a chance to purchase a large variety of Vera Bradley Bags at the Convention Center, for a discounted price. But the most intriguing part about it is that it is not just about those lower price points. Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, the co-founder and designer, and chief creative officer, said “Some people fly in on private jets. It’s more about the culture of sisterhood.”  

I was fortunate enough to see that sisterhood close up, even before I went to the coveted sale. Women in small and large groups, some wearing matching t-shirts and some dressed in designer clothing, giggled and swapped stories about their previous Vera Bradley bag scores in the elevator as I rode down for my cup of coffee on the day I was scheduled to attend. The barista making my coffee told me what she’d purchased the day before at The Friends and Family Event, and the coffee shop manager modeled the all-black quilted mini crossbody his mother-in-law had bought for him. 

Most people will tell you that the Outlet Sale started as a tent sale years ago but Barbara shared in our private chat session with her that it actually started in her basement. Now the sale spans 6 days with The Friends and Family event kickstarting the sale and two non ticketed sessions on Saturday and Sunday rounding it out at the end. During my session, I was most taken with the girlfriends groups and the multigenerational families all bonding over their love of Vera. It was heartening to watch. 

On my way back to the airport a woman headed to check in at The Bradley stopped me near the coffee bar. “Are you here for the sale? I see you have Vera Bradley Luggage.” I told her that I had already gone and that she was in for a treat. 

“Oh, I know. I came down from Michigan and I never miss the sale,” she said, giving me a wink. Before I headed out she circled back. “Hey, what’s your Instagram handle?” she asked. “I’ll follow you.”

So, while I still think Ft. Wayne would make a fantastic girls’ trip, if you do decide to go solo, especially during the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, you’ll be sure to make fast friends.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on a visit to Ft. Wayne!

Until next post,

Xo Tonya Parker

P.S. Visit Ft. Wayne also has a list of black-owned restaurants, black artists, and black-owned shops. I love that they’re culturally aware and inclusive and I’m linking them here.

Black owned restaurants https://www.visitfortwayne.com/blog/post/black-owned-restaurants-in-fort-wayne/

Black owned retail https://www.visitfortwayne.com/blog/post/black-owned-retail-in-fort-wayne/

Black artists https://www.visitfortwayne.com/blog/post/black-artists-in-fort-wayne/

*As disclosed above this was a paid partnership with Visit Ft. Wayne, and as always all opinions are my own.