This summer we’re showing off Fort Wayne in our Hot Summer. Cool City. series and finding all the great hot places to play and cool off.  Summer is packed with events in Fort Wayne—there is a festival every weekend, package deals to make your trip planning even easier, and Farmers Markets all over the city.  We’ve even got the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and TinCaps games at Parkview Field, the #1 and #2 Indiana Summer Gotta-Dos by this site.

You can take part in Hot Summer. Cool City. by entering our photo contest.  Here’s how it works: From now until the end of June, send in the best photos you have of Fort Wayne.  They can be of you, your family, or other things you love about Fort Wayne.  Enter on Facebook here.  You can also tweet or instagram your picture by using @VisitFortWayne and #hotsummercoolcity in your message.

Photo submission of a double rainbow at Parkview Field.

Then, from July 1-14, it’s time to vote!  Get your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you know to vote for you!  The photo with the most votes will win a $500 VISA gift card.  Second and third places will receive a $250 and $100 VISA gift card, respectively.  You can vote for your photo one time per day.

You can take a look at all the entries so far here.  Then, after you’ve gotten a preview of what people love about Fort Wayne, it’s your turn—come visit and enter your own photos!

Win Big in Fort Wayne Photo Contest is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Win Big in Fort Wayne Photo Contest was written by mzweig for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Junk Food Alley at the Three Rivers Festival

A good festival has to have good food—many festivals focus on delicious eats in Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas.  Junk Food Alley at Three Rivers Festival is open during from July 12- 20 and has classic carnival favorites and other festival food.  St. Joe Pickle Festival, a celebration of all things pickle, is August 8-10 in St. Joe, Indiana.  If pickles aren’t your thing, Taste of the Arts on August 24 allows visitors to learn more about arts and food in Fort Wayne.  Our city has so many arts groups and performers representing local and international art, so come to Fort Wayne for a taste of Northeast Indiana and other places around the world.  Check out performances and food in various locations around Arts United all day.  A few weeks later, Mad Anthony’s Oktobeerfest has beer, dining, golfing, and other great activities from September 6-8.

Fire takes center stage at BuskerFest

Other festivals celebrate performance, music, and entertainment.  Buskerfest on June 29, 2013 from 4-10 p.m. is free!  Street performers are scattered around Wayne and Calhoun Streets downtown, so wander around the area to see mimes, drummers, musicians, balloon artists, and more.  Food trucks and other downtown restaurants will be open for a quick food break during the festival.  IPFW RiverFest shows the great resource Fort Wayne’s rivers are to the city.  Learn more about rivers with food, art, music, and the cardboard regatta on June 22 from 9 a.m. to midnight.  A month later, stop by the Allen County Fair from July 23-28 has music, fine arts, crafts, animals, and more for people of all ages.

Summer festivals are even more reasons to visit Fort Wayne.  While you’re here, you can visit the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, see a TinCaps baseball game at Parkview Field, or learn about the world around us at Science Central.  Be sure to look at our festival information page for the full listing of festivals and activities.

Summer of Fun and Festivals in Fort Wayne is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Summer of Fun and Festivals in Fort Wayne was written by mzweig for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

We entered and immediately loved the atmosphere.Upscale, but very welcoming … unlike any other restaurant I’ve experienced in Indy. We felt at home instantly.

When it came time to order, we started with some wine and appetizers – Baked Goat Cheese, Roasted Pepper Tomato Sauce, Flat Breads and Sliced Almonds as well as Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Sriracha Mac & Cheese. It was certainly a great start to the evening!

For dinner, I couldn’t pass up the Bison Burger with Mushrooms, Onions, White Cheddar Cheese, Worcestershire Mayonnaise and Coleslaw. It was mouth-watering and delicious!

My husband settled on the Six Cheese Ravioli with Sautéed Tomato, Garlic, Grilled Zucchini and a Balsamic Glaze. I had hoped to sneak a bit off his plate, but when I glanced over it was all gone. Guess I was too focused on my own meal!

We finished the meal with vanilla/raspberry cheesecake. I have to say … my standard for cheesecake has now increased quite a bit. I’m not sure will be able to top that.

If my personal opinion isn’t enough for you to check out Chef Joseph’s, then maybe these facts are:

• Chef Joseph’s was voted one of the Top New Restaurants for 2012 in Indianapolis Monthly, one of the Most Romantic Restaurants on Indy’s A-List, received an A+ Rating from Avanti, was a Diners Choice Award Winner 2012&2013 from OpenTable, AND was named Best New Restaurant by Nuvo NewsWeekly!
• Chef Joseph’s offers an Executive Lunch Tuesdays-Fridays from 11am-2pm.
• Enjoy live music from the Baby Grand on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening and live performances from local musicians on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Pair a meal at Chef Joseph’s with tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra or the Indiana Repertory Theatre and you have a romantic evening all ready to go!

Be sure and visit Indy’s website for other events, attractions and even hotel accommodations to plan the perfect visit!

Chef Joseph’s is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Chef Joseph’s was written by Carrie Lambert for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Before you even begin to tackle the antique shops, you need to stop in at The Pour House – a local coffee shop that (of course!) also sells antiques! I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t get one of their chai teas. A friend of mine did and then let me try it. Why didn’t I go back? However I did get some of their peanut butter fudge and polished it off the same night! After you’re filled up with some caffeine you’ll be ready to tackle the three blocks that offer ELEVEN antique shops. And they are just waiting for you to find the perfect piece … or two … or three. I was making a wish list as I walked through.When it was time to break for lunch, we tried out the No. 9 Grill.It is housed in a completely restored and redecorated Rhim’s Grocery building. They offer steaks, burgers and my recommendation is their mac-n-cheese bites!

We strolled through a few more of the stores and then found the perfect way to wind down from the day. J&J Winery is located just 11 miles east of Cambridge City (through Centerville – another stop on Antique alley – if you want to see more antiques!). The winery sits on four acres of wooded trails including a two acre pond. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy their award-winning wine and maybe even a pizza from their Italian wood-burning oven.
And if all that isn’t enough of a reason to visit Cambridge City … a new bed and breakfast just opened this spring – Lehman House – in the heart of the city. It is an 1840 Federal Home featuring two rooms, each with a private bath.

More information and details on the above can be found on the Richmond/Wayne County’s website. They were a huge help for my visit and I’m sure they will be more than willing to help plan yours!

Next stop – Cambridge City! is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Next stop – Cambridge City! was written by Carrie Lambert for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Hoosiers.

Indianapolis.

Basketball.

Farmland.

Midwest.

Eighth wonder of the world.

Wait…what? Did I read that right?

Yes, yes you did. All of the above are just a few words that may come to mind when one hears the word Indiana…except maybe the last one. That, however, may someday change because not one, but two places located here in Indiana have been nominated for Virtual Tourist’s 8^th Wonder of the World contest.

On June 3, Virtual Tourist, a leading travel research website and community that is part of TripAdvisor Media Group, turned the decision over for the eighth wonder of the world to the public. There are two Indiana destinations up for vote, the first being none other than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway located in Speedway, Indiana. The IMS is the world’s largest spectator sporting facility and hosts three major racing events including the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and the Red Bull Indianapolis GP.

The second Indiana destination up for vote is a historic national landmark, the West Baden Springs Hotel located in French Lick, Indiana. The West Baden Springs Hotel was built in 1902 and has a domed atrium spanning 200 feet.

So how does the contest work? By YOUR vote. The destination with the most votes at the end will be crowned the eighth wonder of the world; however, crowning the IMS or the West Baden Springs Hotel the winner will be harder than it looks. With over 200 nominations, other destination nominees include San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Niagara Falls, Stonehenge, London and even the world’s largest Bass Pro Shop.

But don’t worry! Voters have until September 30 to cast their votes. So go vote, share and spread the word. Let’s get Indiana to become home to the eighth wonder of the world!

Visit www.virtualtourist.com/8thwonder to vote.

Indiana: Home to the 8th Wonder of the World is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Indiana: Home to the 8th Wonder of the World was written by Amy Finke for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Since my mother-in-law and my four-year-old daughter were with me, I wanted to make sure we had some fun for all parties involved and it was perfect! We loaded up and headed south with visions of large toilets, architecture and ice cream in our heads!

As I promised my daughter, our day began at kidscommons, the community children’s museum. This is the location of the giant toilet! It did not disappoint and I think my daughter went down it multiple times … it’s a beautiful thing to turn a toilet into a slide!For me, the best part was the bubble-ology room. Seriously I’ve never seen such huge bubbles in all my life. When they couldn’t find me, that is where I was hanging out!We spent a good couple hours at the museum and since lunch was calling, we made sure to get our hands stamped so we could come back later.

There is no shortage of dining in downtown Columbus, but we decided on Tre Bicchieri, a local Italian restaurant. My mother-in-law said the salad was delicious, but my daughter and I wouldn’t know since we polished off a pizza!Before heading back to kidscommons, we had to check out The Commons. Not to be confused with the children’s museum, The Commons is located directly across the street from the museum and is a community building offering rental spaces, a wedding venue, restaurants, but most importantly a playground! And do I mean playground!While my daughter played and played and played, my mother-in-law and I took advantage of Columbus’ Tour by Cell Phone. We knew we wouldn’t have time (or the patience of a four-year-old) for the entire two hour architecture tour. So, for $10 you can get a set of keepsake cards with information on 11 local structures. Once at the structure, you dial in to learn more about the history and creator of each masterpiece. Lucky for us, one of the structures is located right by the playground so we took turns listening to the info and watching the playground. Once Maggie was done we were headed back to kidscommons but with one quick stop at the Bartholomew Courthouse and Veterans Memorial.Both were located on the Tour by Cell Phone, so we were able to enjoy the day, walk around the courthouse and read letters from veterans to their family members that are etched in stone. A very cool memorial that I would highly recommend visiting.

Then, back to kidscommons for one more run through the museum. Did I mention they have a cool art/craft area for kids to create masterpieces? A huge hit.One of the stops we knew we had to make (and were happy to do so!) was Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor. Zaharakos has been around since 1900 serving up ice cream, shakes, malts, banana splits, ice cream sodas, you name it. They even have a “museum” of sorts featuring antique ice cream parlor machines.But the day wasn’t finished yet! We still wanted to hit a few more sites on the Tour by Cell Phone and since my daughter was starting to fade, she sat and got pushed while we visited the Former Irwin Union Bank, the First Christian Church (pictured), the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library and of course the Dale Chihuly piece (pictured) at the Visitors Center.It really was a perfect way for us to learn more about Columbus’ fabulous architecture in a limited amount of time.

Before we headed out we had heard their Wednesday Farmer’s Markets had started downtown so we made a quick trip through and got some yummy bread from Savory Meadows Farm (which will soon be opening a store front in downtown!).It was a big day, as evidenced here.We already have a list of what we are going to conquer on our next visit. Thanks Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau for helping us plan a wonderful day!

Getaway to Columbus, Indiana! is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Getaway to Columbus, Indiana! was written by Carrie Lambert for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Located at the Whitewater Valley Gateway Park, the Bluegrass at the Gateway Festival includes four days worth of activities that’s great for everyone. Kicking off on Wednesday, June 26 is open mic night in which a variety of bands will be performing. Out of those performances, one lucky band will be called back to perform on the big stage at the 2014 festival.

On Thursday afternoon, enjoy Strolling Through the Bluegrass, an educational program about the history of bluegrass. Hungry and not sure what’s for dinner? No problem! Starting at 5:30p.m., stop by the Pot Luck Dinner with your favorite covered dish or dessert and enjoy the delicious food from others around you. End the night with an open jam session on the big deck, hosted by Vernon and Kitty McIntyre. Here you can jam out with other musicians, or just sit back and listen to their sweet sounds.

Start your Friday afternoon with an interactive workshop where you will focus on the mandolin in a Q&A type session. All you need to bring is a mandolin, pencil, paper, recording device and of course your questions. In addition, make sure to have pen and paper ready by 4:30 p.m. for the meet and greet of this year’s featured bands. Here you’ll be able to meet the bands, purchase their CD’s and memorabilia. This year’s featured bands include…

• Appalachian Grass
• Tish and Company
• The Retread BG Band
• Berachah Valley
• Open Rail
• My Favorite Bluegrass Band
• Dixie Ryders
• Coffey Brothers

…and more! Enjoy their music live as bands hit the big stage at 6p.m and play till 11p.m.

Finish off the festival by starting Saturday morning with another interactive Q&A workshop, except this time focusing on banjos. Afterwards, relax and enjoy the rest of your day with live performances from featured bands on the big stage.

Yes, all of these fun events are happening all within four days. So mark your calendars and get your camping gear ready because June 26 will be here before you know it!

For more information about the Bluegrass at the Gateway Festival, visit www.whitewatercanalscenicbyway.org, or call 765-647-2541 to register or schedule an event.

Bluegrass at the Gateway Festival is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Bluegrass at the Gateway Festival was written by Amy Finke for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

Nickel Plate Arts Weekend is THIS weekend!

This weekend artists, art lovers and just all around creative folks will “unplug & create” for Nickel Plate Arts Weekend. You can not only see art, but be a part of it too! Starting Friday, there are all sorts of events to partake in throughout the eastern part of Hamilton County from Fishers to Tipton along the old Nickel Plate rail line.

One of the kickoff festivities takes place in the beautifully restored historic homes at the Nickel Plate Arts Campus in Noblesville. “Going, Going, Gone” is a fully improv “live auction comedy” that allows the audience to get in on the fun by bidding on props. And yes, you even get to keep the items that you bid on with your play money! Along with performing arts, visual arts will be celebrated all weekend as well with the Annual Plein Air Paint-Out. This event allows artists to roam the county and paint outside and then enter their pieces into a juried show with the Hamilton County Artists Association.

Get in on the artsy fun yourself by taking a class at the Nickel Plate Arts Campus!  They are offering classes ranging from a kid’s painting class to an herbal tea tasting. The one I’m most excited about is a special activity being offered in Cicero. Kids, and kids at heart, can use special tools called Makedo to turn ordinary cardboard boxes into anything your crafty heart desires! Classes for how to make puppets using Makedo will be offered Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

All aboard! The Art Train will be running all weekend.

The Indiana Transportation Museum is adding another fun element to the weekend festivities, too, with their Art Train! You can treat yourself to some train travel and ride the rails from town to town to see all of the artsy offerings at each stop. The train runs Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9 am. They are also offering caboose rides in Noblesville Friday afternoon into the evening.

As if all of those events are not enough, there is a full schedule with dozens more activities and events to attend! Everything from metalworking and weaving demonstrations, to the Old Mill Festival to arts and crafts sale. You can check out the entire schedule here to plan your perfect artsy visit to Nickel Plate Arts Weekend.

Unplug & Create at Nickel Plate Arts Weekend is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Unplug & Create at Nickel Plate Arts Weekend was written by Emma Diebold for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

• Crown Hill was established in 1863 – making it 150 years old. To view a complete list of their history, visit their website.
• Crown Hill is the third largest cemetery in the United States with 555 acres and plenty of paths to walk and/or bike around.
• President Benjamin Harrison is buried on the property along with three Vice Presidents, Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley and the infamous bank robber, John Dillinger. (This view is from James Whitcomb Riley’s gravesite.)
• Public Tours are offered throughout the spring and summer for a small fee.
• Crown Hill has its own National Cemetery area residing on 1.4 acres. There are 2,135 soldiers buried representing every way the United States has ever participated in.

If you find yourself in Indianapolis and want to learn more about its history, Crown Hill Cemetery is a great place to start.

Unique Experience at Crown Hill Cemetery is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Unique Experience at Crown Hill Cemetery was written by Carrie Lambert for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx

With that in mind, you may not know about a true hidden gem in Hendricks County.

Another satisfied customer at Splash Island Family Waterpark.

Splash Island Family Waterpark, 651 Vestal Road in Plainfield, continues to entertain guests daily from all over the region and even other states as it has for nine years. Some water park lovers from as far away as Terre Haute even visit weekly because of its affordable prices, family-friendly environment and seemingly endless amenities.

The tropical-themed, outdoor oasis boasts 4 ½ acres of water fun including three waterslides, an interactive play area for all ages including kiddie slides, water jets, ropes and guns, a gentle winding river, lily pad crossing and two pulsating vortexes.

But that isn’t even the best part.

Last year, the park completed its first expansion, a $3.6 million project that included the addition of a 900-foot leisure (or lazy) river.

My family and I tried it out last summer, and what an addition!

Leisure River at Splash Island

The 12-foot-wide winding river has plenty of water features, including waterfalls and buckets of water dumping on the heads of those floating by on a tube. The river includes a zero-depth entry making it easy for any age to enjoy.

Those in the leisure river also have the option of getting off their tube as they pass a new water basketball area. That 30-by-50-foot space allows users to shoot some hoops or even start a game while keeping cool in the 3-foot-6-inch water playground.

The new expansion increased Splash Island’s total capacity from 1,500 to 2,300 and included additional deck space for about 400 more deck chairs and a few more giant umbrellas that are scattered throughout the park.

But the Plainfield Parks and Recreation Department refuses to rest on their laurels as they already have another expansion planned for 2016 or possibly sooner. That expansion would include three more waterslides including one of those giant bowl features that funnel each rider around and around almost like you are being flushed down a toilet bowl.

Sound like fun? Want to learn more? Here are a couple insider tips from the staff at Splash Island that will help make the most of your trip.

• Arrive early — Splash Island officials have a policy that they do not schedule large group outings any sooner than noon.  So, if you want to lock down one of those prime, shady locations underneath one of their massive “funbrellas” arrive in the morning.
• More for your money — Many visitors don’t realize that a pass to Splash Island also gets them into the adjacent Plainfield Recreation Center, which has a number of additional amenities including a children’s play area, an indoor water park, a running track, exercise equipment and more.

Want more? Click here to check out all 10 of our Splash Island insider tips on our All Access Hendricks County blog or click here for more places to get wet in Hendricks County as well as hours and prices for Splash Island.

Enjoy Summer Fun at Splash Island in Plainfield is a post from The Indiana Insider Blog. Check out more great content from the Indiana Insider.

The post Enjoy Summer Fun at Splash Island in Plainfield was written by Josh Duke for the Indiana Insider Blog and can be found at The Indiana Insider Blog. If you read this post somewhere other than the link above, please contact us and let us know: http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/contactUs.aspx