Our trip to Pullen Park in Raleigh North Carolina was great! I had heard good things so we decided to stop on our way home from a quick road trip for a stretch break. The park has been around since 1887 and consists of 66.4 acres. If you haven’t been, it’s time to go!
Pedal Boats
We started out with a pedal boat rental. You can rent one for 30 minutes for just $7 for 4 guests. Kids need to be 16 years old if they want to ride alone and an adult has to be present to sign a waiver. The geese were out swimming around the boats and the girls really enjoyed it.
Carousel Rides
The girls also loved the Dentzel Carousel. It’s indoors so it was a fantastic break from the summer heat. And who wouldn’t love the animals? You do need to purchase tickets for the carousel and some of the other attractions when you enter the park. That, of course, is optional and you can enjoy the playgrounds without making any purchase. I hung out outside because pets aren’t allowed inside the carousel. It was a great opportunity to get some water for our little dog.
The history of the carousel is pretty cool. It was built in 1911 by Gustav Dentzel of Germantown, Pennsylvania. More than 250,000 guests to Pullen Park ride on this carousel every single year. How cool is it that each of the 52 solid wood animals are hand-carved and painted? If you want to see one of only about a dozen Dentzel Carousels left in the entire United States, head to Pullen Park! Raleigh’s carousel is on the National Register of Historic Places. What I love and appreciate even more than that is the fact that a wheelchair accessible chariot was added in 2021.
Other Activities
Pullen Park in Raleigh North Carolina also has a train ride, a super cute mini boat ride for very young children, a train car you can enter, and even a restaurant. Basically, you will find plenty to keep you busy here! We did not have time to check out the Aquatics Center, the Arts Center, or Theater in the Park during this stop. There is a lot to discover here and it was an excellent way to break up the car ride.
Pullen Place Café was a neat surprise. On such a hot day, the ice cream was priceless. The food was also delicious. It was better than I expected. The Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich and the B.L.T. are great choices.
For More Information
The park is open from dawn to dusk daily. Restrooms are open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Plan your visit to Pullen Park today!
