The Local Mom Making It Easier to Find Fun in Fort Wayne
Finding new activities to enjoy as a family can sometimes be a challenge, but Caroline Britt is helping local parents discover just how much Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities have to offer. Through her social media page, Fort Wayne Mom, Caroline shares family-friendly attractions, seasonal events, local businesses, and experiences that give families new ideas for spending time together. What started as a personal search for things to do with her own children has grown into a community resource that helps other parents discover new places while giving local businesses another way to connect with potential customers.
Caroline’s content centers on real experiences with her family, from visiting local attractions to exploring seasonal festivals and holiday traditions. As Fort Wayne Mom continues to grow, she has also begun working more closely with local organizations and businesses, sometimes attending events or visiting locations through collaborations. Despite these new opportunities, her original goal remains the same: making it easier for families to find activities and discover experiences they might otherwise overlook.
“The page has been doing really well. I feel like it’s just been getting busier, but in a good way,” Caroline said. “This time of year, there’s so many fun family events and things going on. I feel like I always have things I want to post about, just not enough time to get them all done.”
Building relationships with local businesses has become one of her favorite parts of running Fort Wayne Mom, but the feedback she receives from other parents is just as meaningful. After searching for a resource that made finding family-friendly activities easier and not finding any accounts that fit that criteria, Caroline decided to create one herself. That focus on helping families has shaped the content she shares, particularly her seasonal guides featuring information about trick-or-treating, holiday activities, and other local events. By gathering recommendations in one place, Caroline makes it easier for parents to discover options and plan their outings, and the response has reinforced the value of that work.
“I love when people reach out to me or tell me how helpful my content is for them,” she said. “It makes me feel like all the time and effort I’m putting in is worth it.”
Although Fort Wayne Mom has grown into a platform that connects businesses with potential customers, Caroline never set out to become an influencer. She had little experience with social media before starting the page and did not anticipate how much it would grow. Today, it serves as a creative outlet and a way to contribute to her household while being a stay-at-home mom.
“Being referred to as an influencer still feels so funny to me because that’s just not my personality at all,” Caroline said. “I’m very social and I love talking to people, but I was never big into social media before this, so I guess I never thought about what it would look like if it grew. I just kind of started it but I’ve definitely learned and grown a lot since then.”
As she has gained experience, Caroline has learned to recognize what resonates with her audience and how social media algorithms affect the reach of her content. She has also expanded beyond Instagram and Facebook, launching a TikTok account that has already grown to more than 3,000 followers. Although she is still learning the platform, it offers another way to introduce local families or tourists to places and experiences they may not have discovered otherwise. For others interested in creating content, Caroline believes finding something that naturally fits into everyday life is key. Her family already enjoyed visiting attractions, attending events, and exploring new places, making content creation a natural extension of their routines rather than a separate activity.
“The videos and content do take time, but over time I’ve gotten a system down where I can do them a lot faster as I’ve learned how to edit,” she said. “It’s not as scary, I guess, or as hard as it seems.”
Her advice is to choose something that can realistically be maintained over time.
“Don’t try to force something that you’re not going to be able to stay consistent with or keep up with,” Caroline said.
That balance between family life and content creation is especially fitting during the fall, when seasonal activities offer plenty of inspiration. One recent family outing took Caroline to Northfolk Farms in Waterloo, Indiana, where she enjoyed the variety of activities and the option to sit down for lunch, allowing families to make a full day of the experience. Looking ahead to the holiday season, Caroline hopes her family can return to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s Christmas event and is looking forward to the holiday lights at Parkview Field and the annual drive-through display at Franke Park, which has become a family tradition. She also has upcoming collaborations involving Jurassic Quest, Crispy Cones, and the Festival of Trees at the Embassy Theatre, giving followers even more seasonal experiences to explore.
Beyond the activities themselves, creating Fort Wayne Mom has given Caroline a greater appreciation for the community where she grew up. While some residents may feel there is little to do locally, her experiences have shown her just how much Fort Wayne and the surrounding area have to offer.
“I grew up here, and so many people say there’s nothing to do, and I just think that’s so not true,” Caroline said. “I think there’s really so much to do for families and there’s a lot to do for adults as well. You just have to seek it out and find it.”
Through her recommendations, seasonal guides, and relationships with local businesses, Caroline is helping residents discover new experiences while giving businesses another way to connect with the community. As Fort Wayne Mom continues to grow, its purpose remains the same: helping families find new ways to enjoy the place they call home. Sometimes, all it takes is knowing where to look.
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