10 Great Places to Visit in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne is a city that I’ve grown really fond of over the years. While nowhere near as large as Indianapolis, Fort Wayne is the 2^nd largest city in Indiana and has a lot to offer. I’m constantly finding new things to do there, and it’s nice because it’s only about an hour away from where I live. This list does not contain restaurants, as I’ll be covering plenty of those on other blog entries.

     1. The Fort Wayne Zoo

Fort Wayne’s zoo has been highly touted for years now, and for good reason. Located in Franke Park, this zoo holds more than 1,000 animals and was ranked the 7^th best zoo in the U.S. in 2015 by TripAdvisor. I’ve heard from quite a few people that this zoo is much better than the one in Indianapolis, though I personally have not been to that zoo. What sticks out to me about this zoo is the cleanliness and way it is presented. There are also a couple fun chances to interact with animals, like the petting zoo area and the giraffe feeding area. While the zoo is currently closed for the winter, it will open for the season on April 21^st. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for children. Giraffe feeding will cost $1 and the Sky Tram will cost $2 (both worth it), while parking is free.

2.  Debrand Chocolate Factory Tour

Debrand Chocolate is some high-quality stuff. They have several locations throughout Fort Wayne and have just opened their first Indianapolis location; their main location is on Auburn Road. At all locations they serve up delicious chocolates, truffles, gelato, hot chocolate, and many other great creations, but the Auburn location lets you go behind the scenes on a short (30-45 min.) tour of their factory. While you don’t get an up-close look at how their chocolate is made, you get a handful of informational videos and a view through multiple windows into different parts of the factory. After each segment of the tour, you get to sample one of their products. Tours only cost $5, which is honestly less than what it would cost to consume the amount of items you get to sample. Plus, you get a coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase at the end of the tour. The only downside is that tours are given at 10am on Tuesdays and 1pm on Thursdays, which would be hard to make if you’re working. However, during Three Rivers Festival and certain holidays, they do tours every 30 minutes from 11am-6pm.

3. Parkview Field (Tincaps Game)

Fort Wayne is home to 3 minor league sports teams, but the Tincaps baseball team (SD Padres affiliate) has a stunning venue to go along with the entertainment. Parkview Field has the ballpark, of course, but also contains multiple play areas for kids and has a small amphitheater as well. This place is kept very clean and is full of helpful staff. The park has just over 8,000 seats, but there are many places to stand and watch the game, as well as a lawn section in the outfield areas where fans can spread a blanket out and take the game in. Concession stands are plentiful and offer a variety of foods, and there are several fun games played in between innings by selected audience members. The park is right on the edge of downtown Fort Wayne, opening doors to many dining options before or after the game. Tickets for a game are fairly cheap as well, from $5 lawn seats to $12.50 Legacy seats (padded, behind home plate, waiter service).

4. Foellinger-Freimann Conservatory

This place was also mentioned on my list of things to do in Indiana and winter, but it shared a space with an Indy location and needs its own space! This conservatory has 3 indoor sections along with some outdoor ones as well, encompassing over 100,000 square feet total. It’s a truly peaceful environment and worth a look each season, as one of the indoor sections has its decorations changed a few times a year. The location (downtown) also helps because it gives you a nice departure from the city. Admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for children.

5.  Lazer X

Lazer X is a laser tag arena with some arcade games to go along with it. It’s located in the Glenbrook Mall area and has been recently redone due to a fire that burned the other building down in 2015. It boasts a 9,000+ square foot arena that has multiple levels, along with special abilities that can be activated while playing. Games typically last 15-16 minutes with a debrief period before each new group comes in. You do get a detailed scorecard at the end of every round, which is nice. Their pricing has a system based on tickets, with 1-4 tickets being $8 each, 5-19 tickets being $7 each, and anything beyond that being $6 each. One laser tag game is priced at 1 ticket, so if 5 people want to play 2 games, they buy 10 tickets at the $7 per ticket price. As for the arcade games, you can get 4 tokens for $1, 22 tokens for $5, or 60 tokens for $10.

6. Disc Golf (3 locations)

Fort Wayne is home to 2 great disc golf parks, and there is also one in nearby New Haven. The two in Ft. Wayne itself are Swinney Park and Shoaff Park. Swinney Park is a bigger park that houses an 18 hole disc golf course. This park is busier than Shoaff, but not necessarily because of disc golfers. It gets a lot of foot traffic from a bike trail that snakes its way through it, as well as from people going to the playgrounds and other areas of the park. It’s a fun course to play with a variety of holes, but it has one downside: it is prone to flooding from the nearby river. The flooding can get so bad that most of the park goes underwater, making the course unplayable. That’s why I prefer Shoaff Park! Shoaff not only doesn’t have a nearby river to flood it, but it also has 24 holes. There are only a couple holes that you’ll need to be careful of pedestrians on, and it has a good variance of elevation throughout the course.

7. Escape Rooms

Escape Rooms have become rather popular over the last few years, and for good reason. They provide a way for people of all ages to come together and problem solve their way out of some very fun scenarios in 60 minutes. Fort Wayne has 3 different escape room venues, the first of which is Fort Wayne Chamber Escape Rooms. This one offers 3 different scenarios at varying levels of difficulty for 2-10 people. Tickets here are $30 per person.  The next option is the Fort Wayne Escape Room. This downtown location has 4 different scenarios for 2-8 people and $25-30, depending on which scenario is chosen. The third escape room is called Room to Escape and also boasts 4 scenarios to pick from. Each room requires between 2-8 people and costs between $25-30, depending on the scenario. One unique thing about this location is that they have a $10, 20-minute scenario available as well, and they host Trivia Night once a month! For all locations/scenarios, I recommend looking online for scenario descriptions and difficulty levels. All three locations are highly reviewed on TripAdvisor, so feel free to try them all!

8.  Fort Wayne Curling Club

Curling became a massive hit this February as the Men’s team won gold and shocked the world. People can’t get enough of it, and the Fort Wayne Curling Club has found a way to help people get introduced to the sport. A couple times a month, they hold Learn to Curl sessions, which give the Average Joe/Jolene a chance to learn how to play and try it out for themselves. These sessions cost $20 and last 2.5 hours, with the beginning 30 minutes or so devoted to learning and practicing the game.  Once practice time ends, your group either faces off against each other or another group that is there, depending on how many people you bring with you. Be sure to check their website often for openings because the 30 spots for each session fill up quickly! They also have league available for those more serious about showing up and competing. Those new to the sport that want to join a league should look into the Rookie League.

9. Fair Play Volleyball

Beach volleyball is a fun way to be active in the summer, and Fort Wayne has you covered with Fair Play Volleyball. The location is just east of the downtown area by an old factory, and even though it may seem like an odd place to be, the courts are well-maintained and great to play on. The facility offers a small bar and plenty of seating area, and the parking lot has plenty of space. Fair play offers A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C- divisions, with A being very skilled and C meaning little experience. Some league types available are Co-ed 4’s, Co-ed 6’s, Men’s 4’s, and Women’s 4’s. Games are played for 10-14-week periods, and can be any day except Saturday, depending on what league you want to sign up for. Prices for a team range from $160-$240. Fair Play also has indoor leagues for basketball and volleyball when it’s not summer.

10. Jefferson Pointe

It’s interesting how a mall would make it onto this list, but Jefferson Pointe has a lot to offer. For one, it’s an open-air mall, which makes it much more interesting (and aesthetically pleasing) than the other large mall in Fort Wayne, Glenbrook Square.  It houses over 50 stores and restaurants, and it is a great place to come and just walk around in nice weather. The mall is home to a movie theater that has an IMAX screen, which is a plus. I don’t particularly like clothes shopping, but this mall still has a lot to offer besides clothing stores. It has a Barnes and Noble, which is all I really need to be happy, a paint-and-take art studio, which is a perfect date activity, and a Bed Bath and Beyond, which I’ve come to really enjoy. After eating at one of the many food options here (fast food or fancy), there are several great dessert options as well, like Coldstone, Red Mango, Poptique (gourmet popcorn), and Debrand Chocolate. One of my favorite parts of Jefferson Pointe is the square in the middle, which houses a fountain in nice weather and a Christmas tree in winter months. In the summer, there are weekly concerts held here that always draw a decent crowd.

Honorable Mention: Hyde Brothers Bookstore

This didn’t make the list simply because I dedicated a full space to it in my previous entry. Go check it out!

10 Great Winter Activities for Indiana Residents

Winter in Indiana is truly unpredictable. You can have subzero temperatures one week, temperatures in the 50’s the next week, and then snow and ice the week after that. When winter is truly winter, however, people tend to shut themselves indoors to keep from going out in the cold, snowy weather. Unfortunately, that keeps people from going out and enjoying the many possibilities that are available to them during this time of year. This entry gives a list of 10 different places/activities that help make winter more bearable.

1.       Botanical Gardens (Fort Wayne and Indianapolis)

In the warmer months, people tend to gravitate outside to enjoy nature. However, the harsh chill of winter kills off a lot of plant life and takes the color away from the outdoors. Going to a botanical garden or conservatory gives you a chance to still surround yourself with warmth and lush growth. Fort Wayne’s Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is a real treat. It has three indoor gardens that have different displays throughout the year, with a Christmas display being a huge hit around the holiday season. According to their website, they have over 1,200 plants and 72 different types of cacti in the 25,000 square foot building. It’s a cheap way to spend an hour or two, with the entry fee being only $5 per person. The Garfield Park Conservatory in Indianapolis boasts a $2 entry fee, which may be lower because the conservatory is smaller than the one in Fort Wayne (this one is 10,000 square feet). What is cool about Garfield Park is that it also has an outdoor sunken garden that is supposed to be beautiful in warmer months.

2.       Toboggan Run at Pokagon State Park (Angola)

This is one that I have been eager to try out since I discovered its existence a couple years ago, but I have yet to actually go and do it. Pokagon State Park is a fun park to go to and hike, but during the winter months they open up their two-lane toboggan run. You start at the top of a 30 foot tower, then slide down through dips and valleys for another quarter mile before coming to a stop. Each run takes anywhere from 20-30 seconds, with the record speed being 42 miles per hour. The hours are: Friday: 5:30-9 p.m., Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. As far as cost goes, it is $7 per vehicle to enter the park, and then each toboggan (which fits up to 4 people) costs $13 per hour to rent. You can go as many times as you can in that time, but this requires walking back to the tower from the end of the ride and waiting in line. It closes for the winter on February 25.

3.       Hyde Brothers Bookstore (Fort Wayne)

If you aren’t a fan of reading books, go ahead and skip to #4. If you enjoy reading, you’re in for a treat here. This used bookstores boasts over 150,000 titles and is literally floor to ceiling with books. If you’re like me, you enjoy organization, especially when shopping. Many used bookstores have issues with not being well organized, but Hyde Bros is extremely well marked as you go through the store. Books fill up the entire basement of the building as well. It’s easy to spend an hour here (if not more) wandering around and looking at titles. What’s even better is that there are a couple cats wandering around the store as well, so if you need a break from perusing the shelves you could always stop and give them some attention. This bookstore gets glowing reviews from people, and once you go and visit, it’s pretty clear to see why.

4.       Paoli Peaks (Paoli)

If you’re wondering where to go to get a great snowboarding/skiing experience in Indiana, look no further than Paoli Peaks. Many people online rave about Paoli Peaks, and I can tell just by looking into it that it is an incredible place. The main lodge houses rentals, a pro shop, an area for lessons, a restaurant and bar, and a first aid station, while the land itself has 15 trails (with 8 chair lifts) of various difficulties. Depending on which day of the week you go and if you go all day or part of the day (they are even open til 3am on Saturdays!), the cost can range from $30-$42, not including rentals. If skiing and snowboarding isn’t really your thing, no worries! Paoli Peaks also has a tubing area! The Artic Blast tubing area has 10 tubing lanes that each go 700 feet, with a carpet lift bringing you back to the top of the hill. Like with the skiing, the cost is going to depend on if you go on a weekday or weekend and how much time you plan on spending there. The cost ranges anywhere from $25-50 for tubing.

5.       Dave and Busters (Indianapolis)

This is another indoor venue that may not cater to everyone, but Dave and Busters locations always tend to be busy when I go by them. Essentially, it’s a giant arcade AKA a grown up version of Chuck E. Cheese. There is a full service restaurant/bar there as well, but I tend not to go to places like this for the food. This chain uses the “credit-card” system for playing the games, where you have a certain monetary amount loaded onto the card, then slide it for each game you want to play. Like a typical arcade, D&B has games that will give you tickets for prizes, though not all of them do.  I know this isn’t necessarily a place that is exclusive to winter, but I’d rather spend a couple hours indoors playing arcade games in the winter compared to when it’s nice out during the other seasons.

6.       Christmas Light Shows (various locations)

While the holiday season has come and gone for the year, you can’t help but give credit to the many different places that go all out with Christmas lights. Yeah, you have cities like Fort Wayne and Indianapolis that have multiple locations (downtown and zoos) that have incredible light displays, but you have to give smaller cities credit as well. There is something so magical about strolling through the snow, surrounded by thousands of colorful lights, sipping a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Kokomo puts on a great show in Highland Park, and the northern Indy suburbs of Noblesville and Fishers put on great displays too. Specifically, check out Reynolds Farm Equipment Christmas Lights Show, right off of Ind. 37. Marion, the town I live in, puts on the Walkway of Lights for about a month each year. What is fun about this light show is that you can walk through it or drive through it. It costs $5 for a car to go through, but then afterward you can take that car back through as many times as you want to throughout the rest of the season.  It’s free for those walking through.

7.       Veal’s Ice Tree (Indianapolis)

This marvel is truly a sight to behold. Just before winter begins each year, a frame is built, then lumber and brush are added to it. The “tree” is then sprayed with hoses and food coloring and usually gets around 35-40 feet in height (though it got to 80 feet in 2014). This tradition started all the way back in 1961 and has been going strong ever since. If you’re in the Indy area, definitely go check this out! It’s one of the most unique sights you’ll ever see!

 

8.       Christkindlmarkts (Ferdinand and Carmel)

Here is one item that is unfortunately no long available this winter season, but should be a staple once December arrives. Many towns throughout Indiana have markets selling Christmas wares and decorations, with impressive light displays and good food to go along with that. I find that Christkindlmarkts especially seem to have the bright, cheery feeling that comes with the holiday season. I have not been to the one in Ferdinand, but I do know that it usually contains over 200 booths that sell anything from ornaments to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. The Christkindlmarkt in Carmel was a new event this past holiday season, and while it had its usual “new event issues”, overall reviews were positive. Throwing an event like this for the first time lets you learn on the fly what works and what doesn’t, so I feel that next year will improve greatly on what already was a pretty fun time. This market is outdoors and features small houses selling food and crafts. There is also a sort  of band shell where different performers play throughout the several weeks the market is open. You are even able to ice skate here, as there is a rink in the middle of the area.

9.       Hiking (various locations)

I’m a strong hiking advocate, even in colder months. Too often people cross hiking off their list of things to do in the winter because they don’t like the idea of being outside for long periods of time. While I can understand not wanting to freeze your buns off, there are also solutions to this issue. For one, there are some nature preserves in Indiana that would be quite scenic in winter, and many preserves contain 2 miles or less of trails total! Also, many state parks have short trails that are very accessible in winter, like Fort Harrison State Park or Ouabache State Park. (a list of great hiking spots is coming once temperatures warm up a bit) I’m telling you, if you’ve never seen a frozen waterfall in person, you’re missing out.

10.   Ice Skating (various locations)

What’s winter without ice skating? It’s a recreational activity that is almost exclusive to winter, so how can I not list it? There are both indoor and outdoor places to ice skate, so the first step is deciding which of those you’d be more up to doing. If it isn’t bitterly cold, I’d suggest outdoor ice skating to get the true experience. In Fort Wayne, Headwaters Park is the place to go for outdoor skating, while SportOne Icehouse allows for indoor skating at certain times. If you’re closer to Indy, there are rinks in Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Avon, and in Indy itself. There are too many to list, but it’s an easy enough Google search.

12 Indiana Festivals to mark on your calendar

*New* Entries have been added since the original post
I’ve always been a firm believer that spending money on experiences is more enjoyable than spending money on things. Festivals are a great way to get out and see the lovely folks in a community, see some cool things, and eat some good food. While not many festivals take place in the middle of winter, I figured I’d get your attention to some of these so you can mark them on your calendars before they get too filled up.

1. Buskerfest
Buskerfest was a festival that I knew nothing about going in, but ended up being pleasantly surprised. This festival in Fort Wayne is a celebration of street performers, and it contains all kinds of eclectic acts. When I was there, I encountered a sword swallower, fire dancers, a unicycle crew, street gymnastics, and musicians! What is nice about this festival is that there is no entry fee and every performance is free!
Date: June 29, 2019
Address: Corner of Wayne and Calhoun in Fort Wayne, IN
Times: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM

2. Ribfest
If you like barbecue, this festival is heaven. There are multiple BBQ celebrations in Indiana over the course of a year, but Ribfest is a festival that continues to amaze me. As it is another Fort Wayne festival, it usually brings an above average turnout and some amazing BBQ crews. There is an entire walkway full of award-winning barbecue to consume, and don’t even get me started about the glorious smell. This is not strictly a food event, either, as live music under a bandshell helps provide entertainment. This event will burn a hole in your wallet quickly, however, so be prepared.

Last year’s information…
 JUNE 14TH - 17TH, 2018  |  FREE THURSDAY-SATURDAY UNTIL 5:30PM
$6 ADULTS (13 & OVER) | $5 SENIORS | $4 STUDENTS, MILITARY, FIRE, POLICE
SUNDAY ONLY $3 ALL DAY (Headwaters Park in Fort Wayne, IN)
 
3. 3 Rivers Festival
Yes, I know, another Fort Wayne festival. However, this is one of Fort Wayne’s biggest gatherings of the year, generating over half a million attendees each year. This one week festival contains over 80 events, from things like bed races or raft races to Junk Food Alley and Art in the Park.  It also brings in some pretty good musical acts as well, from talented cover bands to well-known Christian artists and 90’s-00’s bands.

Dates: July 12-20, 2019
Various Locations

4. Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival

This fair is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, which is a feat not a lot of fairs can claim nowadays. If you like the sugary goodness of authentic maple syrup, this festival is worth checking out! They will have all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, a parade, carnival, kettlecorn, animal acts, a 5K, plenty of vendors, and contests!

Dates: April 26-28, 2019 11am-6pm

5. Indiana State Fair
The state fair is possibly the biggest “festival” Indiana has, and sadly I’ve never actually been to it. This is largely due to the fact that the fair happens in August when I’m just getting back to school. I really want to drive down and check it out one of these years. At this fair you have a whole bunch of carnival rides, fair food, and animal showings. The live music is another big draw. Even though I can’t tell you much more about the fair, I do know that a fair lasting 17 days has got to be worth checking out!

Dates: August 2-18
Cost: Currently $8 online + a convenience fee, but will be $12 closer to the fair

6. Heritage Days
Heritage is a festival held in Huntington, Indiana, every summer. There are a lot of events going on during Heritage Days, from car shows to a hot air balloon festival. There are also several special breakfasts and food events going on as well. Typically, a few blocks of downtown Huntington are blocked off for carnival rides. There will be a parade, too, which will highlight the theme that will be shown through each day’s activities. This year’s theme is 50’s. Heritage Days doesn’t contain an attraction that truly impresses me, but it is a good, old fashioned festival that I’ve had the opportunity to go to and enjoy over the years.

Dates: June 19-23
Cost: varies by event

7. Johnny Appleseed Festival
This festival is one that I was able to experience 2 years ago because I had heard a lot of people talking about how entertaining it is. I must, say, I was not disappointed. I’d be lying to you if I said that I cared a lot about the history of such fairs and festivals; I am all about the food that is available there. I couldn’t help but appreciate the set-up of Johnny Appleseed, however. An entire green space is taken over and set up to be like an 1800’s pioneer village, and this place was PACKED when I was there. That would probably be the one negative I’d have to say about my experience. It’s right next to the Coliseum in Fort Wayne, and parking there isn’t free. However, you can park at IPFW or Concordia High School and have a free shuttle come and take you to the festival.  The festival has many sections: food, crafts, antiques, reenactments, and entertainment stages. There are typically over 200 booths there, and all vendors must sell/make food that was available in the 1800’s. People flock to the root beer stand, where you can have bottles refilled from previous years for a reduced price.

Dates:  September 21st & 22nd Sat: 10am - 6pm    Sun: 10am - 5pm
Cost: Free entry

8. James Dean/Ducktail Run
Now we come to another event that I have missed out on over my 5.5 years of living in Marion: James Dean/Ducktail Run. While these two are technically different events, they coincide on the same days and are very close to each other. Ducktail Run is a car show event featuring over 2,500 cars from 1972 and older. This event holds a flamethrower competition with the cars, which sounds awesome. Apart from the cars, there is also live music and a huge craft swap. This event runs September 26-29 in Gas City Park in Gas City, IN. James Dean Festival is a flashback to the 50’s, with a 50’s/custom car show, 50’s dance contest, James Dean look-alike contest, showings of Dean’s films, live music, a pet parade, and a 5K run. This event runs September 27-29 at Playacres Park in Fairmount, IN.

9. Greekfest
All things Greek take place during this event, which include food, music, dancing, and raffles! This is another Fort Wayne event at Headwaters Park, which plays host to many of Fort Wayne’s best festivals. I have not personally been to this event, but it sounds like a blast. There is also a marketplace and an area for amusement rides.

Dates: June 27-30. Admission is free between 11am-4pm each day, with a $5 charge from 4pm-10pm. It is free admission all day on Sunday.

10. Blueberry Fest
This festival, which takes place in Plymouth, IN, is one I remember as a child as being a highlight of the summer. My wife and I drove by on our way home from a weekend getaway 2 years ago, and it seems to still be going strong. While it does not take place during blueberry season, the name comes from the fact that the county used to produce 1/3 of Indiana’s blueberries. There is no shortage of blueberry foods at this festival, though. There are so many events during the days of the festival, some of which are races, a bike show, a car show, a horseshoe tournament, a dog show, a parade, live music, a craft show, a swimming competition, sports competitions galore, a balloon launch/glow, a fireworks show, a carnival, a pageant, a craft market, a tractor pull, and horse shows. If you’re reading this and are impressed by that list, know that there are even more events that I did not mention! No wonder 500,000 people come and check this event out each year! Parking is $8 at the high school, which includes a tram ride, but there are also plenty of other places to park (fees vary or are free). This event takes place in Centennial Park.

Dates: August 30-September 2, 2019


11. Indiana Bacon Festival (Delphi)

That’s right, Hoosiers. Indiana has a bacon festival. This festival doesn’t just offer different types of bacon to sample, it offers all kinds of other foods that bacon compliments, like bacon wrapped items and chocolate covered bacon. There is also quite of bit of craft beer as well. Other events besides sampling food include live music, a hog calling contest, a bacon eating contest, boat rides, and a singing competition.

Dates: August 24, 2019 3-11pm

12. Versailles Pumpkin Show

This show/festival is one of the oldest in the state and dates back over 100 years! That alone makes it noteworthy, but it also has a giant pumpkin weighing contest that is quite a spectacle. Apart from that, it has a lot of other common festival events like live music, a carnival, eating contests, face painting, and a talent show.

Dates: September 27-29, 2019

10 donut places in Indiana that you need to visit

One of the sweet, sugary substances I can't get enough of are donuts. I've always had a love for them, but over the years my delight in donuts has swelled. I've also become a much pickier eater when it comes to donuts. No longer am I content with Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, or anything you can get at a local grocery/convenience store. That's not to say I won't eat a donut from one of those places if it is presented to me; I don't enjoy them as much. As a result, I've ventured out to quite a few local donut establishments in my 5.5 years of living in Indiana. If you love donuts, I encourage you to take a trip and give each of these places a try.

1. Long's Bakery in Indianapolis
Long's is the first place on my list because it probably is the most well-known. It has been around for awhile, and it has made it to quite a few "Best donuts in the Mid-West/Indiana" lists. Yes, those lists are a thing, and yes, I've spent too much time looking at them. Long's is just down the road from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and is a CASH ONLY establishment. It's crazy to think that a bakery would have lines at all hours of the day, but Long's does. I've been several times and have stood in those lines. This place has a lot of baked goods to offer besides donuts, but most people are there for the donuts. In my visits, I sampled mostly cake donuts, all of which have been delightful. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with the Applesauce Donut, but I'm a sucker for anything apple.

2. Rise'n Roll Bakery (3 Locations)
Rise'n Roll was a revelation when I first discovered it in Fort Wayne. The Fort Wayne store is not their main store, but it is the only one I've been to and the closest one to me. The store has Amish food, specializing in jams/jellies, other canned goods, meat, and cheese, and bakery items. They also can do meals there as well, with simple breakfast items and lunch sandwiches. The main draw for me is their Cinnamon Caramel Donut, affectionately known as the Amish Crack donut. These beauties are covered in a caramel glaze, but then are covered in powdered sugar after that, so when you take a bite it just melts in your mouth. These donuts are truly a dream, and it's no wonder they were voted to be the official donut for National Donut Day in 2018. If you go on that day (June 5th), and they do what they did last year, you'll get one FOR FREE.


3. Deluxe Donuts in Anderson
Deluxe Donuts has, in my humble opinion, some of the best cake donuts I've ever had. This place has been serving delicious donuts for quite some time based on the decor of the place, and they are open 24 hours! This huge, seeing as how many local donuts stores will close in the early afternoon or when they sell out. Not here! I've enjoyed every kind of donut I've had from this place, and have especially enjoyed seasonal flavors like peach and pumpkin. My favorite from here would have to be the Dutch Crunch Donut. It's hard to describe, so you'll have to go try one for yourself.


4. Jack's Donuts (Multiple Locations)
More and more of these places have popped up around Northern Indianapolis over the last couple years, which has been great to see. This local chain serves up anything from a classic chocolate glazed to maple bacon donuts or donuts with cereal on them. I wouldn't say these are as good as some of the others on this list, but I haven't had a bad donut from there yet. I appreciate Jack's because they stay open later than most local places and have good seating areas to hang out and visit.


5. Mary Lou Donuts in Lafayette
It was by chance that I happened upon this gem while out disc golfing in Lafayette. I immediately fell in love with both the donuts here and how much I had to pay for them. These are fairly cheap donuts, but be warned this is a CASH ONLY store. This place tends to garner lines as well, though the couple times I have been in the afternoon I have not encountered a line. My favorite from here is the Apple Fritter, which is large and packed with cinnamon and apples. The blueberry cake donut was a close second.


6. Titus Bakery (2 locations)
I was lucky enough to be able to try Titus Bakery this winter, and I was not disappointed. This is another place that sells a wide variety of baked goods, so it's definitely worth a visit even if you're not a donut person (but let's be real...if you're already this far into this blog you ARE a donut person). They have quite a few types of donuts here too, so I'm eager to go back and try more. Their most popular donut is the Pershing, a donut with maple icing and cinnamon on the inside. I can attest, that is a GOOD donut.


7. Poppy's Xtreme Donuts in Marion
The donut store took off a couple years ago in my town after Marion's other donut store closed. It has been expanding its business ever since and now has a second location along with many other venues that sell their donuts. The draw here is their yeast donuts, especially their filled donuts. Even though I'm more of a cake donut guy, I enjoy their Peanut Butter Fluff filled donut and their Blueberry filled donut. They do have a small selection of cake donuts here, but they aren't as special as their yeast donuts.


8. Quack Daddy Donuts in Pendleton
This store is located right in the small downtown of Pendleton, and was quite busy when I stopped in. The reviews for the place are glowing, and it seems like many people are delighted in a donut store that lets you customize your own donut. They pump out fresh (mini) cake donuts quite often during the day, and you are able to pick toppings and frostings for your donuts. Toppings range from peanut butter drizzle to cereal to bacon, which reminds me a lot of toppings at Jack's donuts.  This store is a lot like the chain Peace, Love, and Little Donuts in Ohio, which is high praise. One thing that sets this place apart from Jack's and PLLD is that they will serve you milk in a frosted mug, which many people seem to enjoy.


9. Tom's Donuts in Fort Wayne
I usually end up at Rise'n Roll when I'm looking for a donut in Fort Wayne, but Tom's made a Buzzfeed list for best donuts in Indiana, so I've ventured there twice and left satisfied both times. It's a pretty nondescript building, but the donuts are amazing and cheap. I bought 3 donuts there for less than $2, so that's saying something. Once I came in and there were a lot of regulars in there drinking coffee and socializing, and I couldn't help but smile. My favorite donut from here was the Apple Spice donut.


10. Dan's Variety Bakery in Kokomo
To close out my list, I go with another place whose donuts I have yet to taste. Here's the deal: I've gone twice and they've been sold out both times. Normally that would be upsetting, but both times I've come an hour or so before their closing hour (noon). Dan's, more affectionately known as Dirty Dan's, is unique is that they open at 1am. Who would want donuts that late? It turns out that a lot of people do. Reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp declare that there are frequently lines out the door when they open, and many friends of mine who went to nearby colleges said they loved going on donut runs to Dan's at 1am. I'm conflicted on whether I want to have a late night and get fresh donuts, or if I should wake up early and get them around 8am.


 (Note: I did not include any orchards for their apple cider donuts, though if you like the sound of that, check out Tuttle Orchard, Apple of His Eye Orchard, and Deer Creek Orchard)

Honorable Mention: Heyerly's in Ossian: I was reminded about this one after posting this, but I don't think it beats out any of the 10 I listed. The place smells great and has a variety of baked goods (even homemade pasta!), and had a pretty good applesauce donut. I also remember buying cookies and enjoying those as well.

If you like donuts, you may notice there are some notable ones missing. I either haven't been there yet, haven't heard about it yet, or it may be just okay. Here are some examples of that last reason...
-Square Donuts (multiple locations): fun concept, but donuts are just okay
-Concannon's (Muncie): the store impressed me, the cake donuts notsomuch (they are better known for yeast donuts)
-Taylor's (Indianapolis): good, not great
-GADCO (Indianapolis): expensive craft donuts, and though the ones I had were good, the were out of the one I really wanted (french toast donut)
-Wabash Donut Shoppe(Wabash)- good apple fritters, but they either closed or moved away
-Rocket 88 Donuts (Indianapolis)- closed, and they were expensive (though pretty decent)