Pullen Park | 520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, NC 27606 (Next to NC State and in between Western Blvd & Hillsborough St.)
Hours:
Daily, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Exploring Pullen Park
If you haven’t been to Pullen Park yet, I highly recommend going there with your kids! It’s been enchanting little ones since it was established in 1887, and is fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the United States, and was the first public park in North Carolina. The Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel was built in 1911, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. I remember going to Pullen with my grandparents when I was a kid, when my family visited them. I see that same excitement in my kiddos every time we go--it’s one of our favorite destinations in Raleigh. In fact, we attended one of their friend’s birthday party there last weekend, and it was a big hit!
After starting the birthday party at one of the picnic shelters, we moved to the playground area to let the kids run around. There are two playground areas, one for toddlers and one for older kids, as well as a separate area with swing sets for multi ages and abilities. There are tall rope nets to climb, rock walls, slides, sandboxes, and seesaws. Interspersed within the playground are sprinklers and water play areas, which helps on especially hot days! The whole playground area is fenced in, so it’s easy to keep track of your little, and not so little, ones. All of the kids, of all ages, loved playing in the caboose, which is right next to the playground. The red Norfolk Southern Railway caboose is refurbished, and kids can climb in and around it, playing hide and seek and make believe to their heart’s content.
It’s was time to ride all the rides once playground time was finished! We started on the miniature train, whose track encircles the play area and the pond, and continued to the Carousel. Those two rides are my kids’ favorites. Coming in only at $1/per person, it’s an affordable treat. The train and the carousel are well maintained and have been well loved for generations. There are also kiddie boats to ride and pedal boats to rent, to round out this urban amusement park and playground. There’s even a food court area, next to the ticket office, that has well priced local food and treats. In addition to the amusement area, the 66 acre Pullen Park has an Aquatic Center, Theatre in the Park, and Pullen Arts Center, so there is lots to explore on future visits.
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