Life in Manchester

We started off our adventure in Fort Wayne at Firefly Coffee House for lunch. I had a cheese toasty (or grilled cheese as some of you may call it) on sourdough. Honestly the best cheese toasty I’ve had. The atmosphere was amazing. It was obvious that the baristas and owners are very invested in the community and their relationships with customers. Books, magazines, etc were available to read – offering a ‘leave one, take one’ incentive. They also sell hand-crafted items from local artists.

We headed to the Arts United Campus so we could pick up a couple of bikes that would make it faster + easier to get around Fort Wayne. We parked downtown and paid a meter $.50 to park while we rode (The meters are only running 8a-5p, otherwise it’s free to park). There are 4 other locations in FW that host the Fort Wayne’s Bike Share and operate as places you can borrow and return the bikes. The program is operated from an app – including paying, unlocking, and returning. On their website they strongly recommend wearing a helmet, however, they are not required. Each trip under an hour is free, otherwise it’s $3/hour.

Last summer I did an internship at Arts United so I was excited to visit their campus and see updates and completed projects that I’d been a part of planning. Arts United has become the center of Fort Wayne’s arts and culture and a go to spot for organizations to host events. The FW Ballet, The Civic Theatre, the FW Museum of Art, Artlink Gallery, and several others are located on the Arts United Campus.

Here are a few photos + locations that we went/passed along our bike ride around downtown.

• Allen County Public Library
• Parkview field
• Grand Wayne Center
• The Golden
• The Hoppy Gnome
• The City Exchange
• Cindy’s Diner
• Lace + Arrow
• The Find
• Tolon

We returned our bikes near the Grand Wayne Center and Parkview Field and walked to Freshii for a bowl of frozen kefir (similar to frozen yogurt) to cool off from the hot sun. I added blueberries, chocolate chips, and honey on top. They also have other fresh foods + smoothies and snacks. Freshii’s patio over looks the Tincap’s stadium – we got a glimpse of a practice in progress. How cool if a game would have been going on?

After Lauren headed home, I ended the night at the Living Fort Wayne Concert Series supported by YLNI (Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana) at Headwater’s Park West. The first Wednesday of each month in the summer they host a concert that features a few local bands, local food trucks, and other activities. People who live in FW ride their bikes to the concert, but there’s also free parking nearby.

I got the San Antonio Breakfast taco from Sol Kitchen. Their tacos are SO good and filled with so much flavor and ingredients.

YLNI also hosts networking workshops and events, leadership conferences, the farmers market, etc. throughout the year.

The food trucks are all over FW at different events throughout the week and the year. They’ve created a Facebook page (+ other social pages) to help you track where they’ll be. My favorite is Sol Kitchen, but really, they’re all good.

After the concert, I walked back to downtown on the trails that go along the river.

I grew up near Fort Wayne and worked in the city last summer, but it’s always fun to spend time here – seeing what’s new, improved, and developing. Even though FW is much larger than North Manchester, a community still exists here that connects the people who live, work, and play there.

On the MUve in Fort Wayne, Part 2
Riding our bikes around downtown Fort Wayne, it’s amazing to see how much the city has grown and how it has retained its many historic charms. Filled with culture and life, Fort Wayne has a unique mixture of old meeting the new.

Perhaps the most historic landmark in Fort Wayne is the Old Historic Fort. Reconstructed on a plot of land less than a quarter mile from the original site, Fort Wayne is a copy of the post built by American troops in 1815-1816. Fort Wayne was one of the most sophisticated, all wooden forts built in North America, and was design to defend Indian attacks.

Today, the Old Historic Fort is open for visitors at any time; however, you’ll want to come during one of their historic events to see inside the buildings. Visit https://bit.ly/2aNcxFE to learn more about the Old Historic Fort and to see their event schedule.

The next stop on our bike ride was the Embassy Theatre. The Embassy Theatre opened its door in 1928 and has maintained its historic integrity. The Embassy is a historic jewel in Fort Wayne and has held performances by some of the most well-known entertainers in history, including: Bob Hope, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, comedian Kevin Hart, Moscow Ballet, and many more. The Embassy has a variety of events throughout the year. With everything from ballets to comedians and special movie screenings, the Embassy Theatre provides classic entertainment

In need of a mid-day snack, Karly and I stopped at Coney Island for some delicious hotdogs. These are no ordinary hot dogs. When you step into Coney Island, you are immediately greeted by the wonderful smell of cooking hot dogs and an old fashion atmosphere. Coney Island has been ran by the same family since 1916, and since opening their doors, Coney Island has remained an unchanged staple in Fort Wayne, always retaining its delicious hotdogs and family friendly ways. Local Secret though, when you visit, walk through the entrance in the back and get an inside look at the kitchen!

Our final stop of the day was at the Botanical Conservatory. This beautiful conservatory is home to over 25,000 square feet of a beautiful indoor garden oasis and serves as a plant rescue center for endangered species. Botanical Gardens holds special events year round, making even the ickiest winter day a little bit more colorful. Karly and I were able to visit the conservatory for only $10 ($5 per adult) and were immediately drawn to the beautiful, bright gardens and the unique environment.

Fort Wayne has a life all of its own. With a growing, diverse community, Fort Wayne has become a hot spot for fun and entertainment.

If you’re looking for outdoor adventures, Huntington is right down the road and will fulfill all of your adventure-seeking needs. A simple 25-minute drive from North Manchester, Huntington is perfect for camping, hiking, and even zip lining! Let our outdoor adventure begin….

Our first stop was the Kil-So-Quah State Recreation Area. Kil-So-Quah is home to the J. Edward Roush Lake, a 900-acre lake rich in Native American history. This lake provides the perfect atmosphere for camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, and other water-related activities. The lake is also surrounded by 7,600 acres of land, which offer year-round outdoor adventures. During the summer, the Kil-So-Quah campground charges $4 Monday-Thursday and $5 Friday-Sunday, per vehicle. For a close-to-campus getaway, this price was perfect for our not-so-deep pockets.

In need of a caffeine buzz, we decided to visit Four Cups of Coffee. Located on the outskirts of downtown, Four Cups of Coffee doesn’t only provide delicious beverages, they are also a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the Huntington community — one cup of Joe at a time. All of the baristas are volunteers and are committed to serving the community. They serve specialty coffees of all kinds, ensuring that there is a little something caffeinated for everyone.

Other local favorite food places include:

• The Berg
• Nick’s Kitchen
• Pizza Junction
• Brick House Grill
• Los Amigos Mexican Restaurants

Our trip to Huntington was fun and adventurous. While off the beaten path, we were able to learn a lot about Huntington and how great it is to have a relaxing getaway, without actually being too far away.

It’s easy to make that routine trip to Walmart without stopping to explore what else Wabash has to offer, including local favorites. I’m excited to introduce to you, or remind you, of places to visit on your next trip to Wabash.

My friend Lauren and I started off our afternoon at Paradise Springs Historical Park and Riverwalk. We were looking forward to getting some fresh air and exploring Wabash on foot. The park is linked to downtown through trails, but there is also parking available at the park entrance. As soon as we pulled up to the park, we immediately wished we had packed a picnic to enjoy at the park because of the picturesque scenery and shaded picnic tables. Lauren and I vowed we’d come back again, making sure to bring some snacks and books to read or homework.

There’s a paved loop that winds around the park and is lined with benches and flower beds, leading to a lookout spot over the Wabash River. Along the way, you’ll see rustic cabins that tell stories of the area’s history and first settlers. There are signs scattered throughout the park that also share the significance of the site and the natural surroundings of the park. The trail makes its way around Wabash, totaling approximately 3 miles.

Craving more time outside, our next stop was Salamonie Lake State Recreation Area. The afternoon was all blue skies and sunshine, which made it even more enjoyable to walk the trails, scope out the beach, and check out the lake and the rest of the park.

There’s a $7 entry fee to the park (per vehicle), but there’s plenty of free and inexpensive activities to do inside the park. I’ll list a few below:

• Hiking
• Biking/Mountain Biking
• Cross Country Skiing Trails

The trails are open throughout the year, ranging in length and experience level as they wind through the woods and clearings to follow the lake perimeters. Whether you’re looking for an adventure, a challenge or simply a way to relax, the trails are a great way to get outside, to get your body moving, and to spend some time off campus.

• Canoe, kayak, and paddle boat rentals
• Volleyball and basketball courts
• Swimming and beach access
• Picnic Areas
• Hunting
• Fishing/Ice fishing
• Campfire sites (firewood is available for purchase)

As Lauren and I prepared to visit Wabash, we wanted to find places that are locally owned and unique to the city, especially when it came to food.

Cue Harvey Hinklemeyers.

We absolutely loved the atmosphere- the mural painted walls totally caught our eyes. We also enjoyed that their menu was filled with variety ranging from Mexican food, pizza, salad bar, and sandwiches. However, if you have food allergies or sensitives, it may be difficult to find hot menu items that avoid allergies and sensitivities such as dairy and gluten. You can preview the menu here before you go! Lauren and I were both able to grab lunch and include a tip for our waitress under $12.00, which was exciting for our tight college budget!

Although we didn’t visit the following places, we’ve heard through the grapevine that they are fantastic local favorites you don’t want to miss!

• Market Street Grill
• Twenty
• Honeywell Golf Course

You can also get more involved in the community by visiting the YMCA for volunteer opportunities.

Here are a few options:

• Youth after school program
• Gymnastics
• Referee
• Life Guard
• Bingo
• Coffee & Conversation with Active Older Adults

Our hope is that Wabash transitions from a quick stop to buy groceries to a place that students are eager to visit and invest in the community as we learn more about the places to eat, visit, shop, and spend our time.

I’ve lived in Warsaw for over a year, yet I still feel like there is so much in Warsaw left to uncover. As Lauren and I researched the places we wanted to visit and eat, we found so many places we’d never heard about nor been to. We were excited to explore a city that was so close to MU.

So far, I’ve ordered tacos at each place we’ve been to so it seemed natural to have our first stop be 26th Street Mexican Grill. I ordered veggie tacos, which aren’t on the menu but they’ll make it by request. My meal, which included two tacos and chips + salsa, was right around $3. I’ll definitely be making my way back there for the delicious tacos.

Next, we made our way downtown to Center Lake and Central Park. Central Park has a garden full of the brightest and widest variety of flowers I’ve ever seen. The pictures don’t even do it justice.

At the park there is also space for concerts and events. You can see the event calendar here.

Across from the park, Center Lake has beach access and picnic tables. This is another place I will add to my list of places to take a picnic or study. I brought a book to read and we stuck around for a while before heading to our next stop.

Lauren and I window shopped and walked around the downtown area before picking which places we wanted to visit.

We stopped at a locally owned boutique called Elysian Co. They carry jewelry, clothing, shoes, and home goods from local businesses, along with items from larger companies likes Rifle Paper Co, Roma, The Giving Keys, and Purevida bracelets, etc.

The Winona Lake Trails and Park are one of my favorite and most visited places in Warsaw/Winona Lake. The paved trails wind through The Village and park to a woods that has both paved paths and trails for biking, walking, running, etc. From start to end, the trail is approximately 3 miles. My favorite part about the trails is seeing so many people in the community being active with their family and friends and encouraging to me as we pass each other. There are also events happening about all year long on the trails and in the park that are typically free or only cost a registration fee including races, concerts, food tastings, etc.

Although we didn’t visit the following places, we’ve heard the following places are local favorites!

• La Troje
• First Fridays
• North Pointe Cinemas
• TG’s Frozen Desserts– They offer a student discount and special deals throughout the week.
• Mad Anthony’s
• Warsaw Biblical Gardens
• Chicago dog house
• Curbside