A fun little amusement park is nestled just outside of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Pullen Park features a myriad of playgrounds, a train, a carousel, and a lake with paddle boats. We visited early one weekday morning, perhaps too early.
We arrived at 8:30 a.m. to a mostly empty parking lot. The park was open but the rides didn't start until 10 a.m. Happily, the playgrounds were open though still damp from summer overnight condensation. We've run into this problem before and have a rag in the car suitable for drying off slides and swing seats. The rag saw a lot of action that day.
Some items didn't need drying, like this fantastic spider web climber.
Other play equipment was more accessible to everyone, including climbers and slides.
My kids tried out a see-saw, but unfortunately their weight differences were enough to make it a little challenging. They persevered.
While the big kids climb over most everything, the toddler found what he likes best and spent nearly 40 minutes there.
From our vantage point by the toddler swing set, we saw some more accomplishments by the older children.
We also saw the kiddie boats which were not that appealing to me or the kids--another case of just the wrong sizes.
About 9:30 we decided to check the ticket office and the snack bar to see if they were open early. We wandered a little haphazardly and discovered the carousel building. The carousel was warming up but the doors weren't open yet.
Nearby is a statue of Andy and Opie from The Andy Griffith Show. It was donated in 2003 by "the people of TV Land." My older son has watched the whole series so he was excited to pose with them.
We discovered the snack bar didn't open until 10:30 but the ticket office was about to open. By this time the park was filling up with people young and old. We waited in line for the longest ten minutes of the morning to buy tickets, then went over to the train for a ride. We didn't know how long the train ride would go but I was sure it would be longer than the carousel. After that excruciating ten minutes, I didn't want to take any chances.
The train ride was a pleasant six or seven minutes around the park. We saw the stream and the lake along with many of the attractions.
After we got off the train, we investigated a caboose-like structure near the playground. Inside was not very impressive so we took no pictures.
We went over to ride the carousel. The building had an old-fashioned organ on display.
The carousel itself is a Dentzel Carousel, like the one we rode in Philadelphia. It was built in 1912 and is an impressive and fun ride.
My toddler wanted to ride on the outermost ring, which did not go up and down. We actually sat pretty far from my daughter and older son, which was fine with them.
The art and imagination put into the figures still impresses me a lot.
After the carousel ride we finally had a snack and headed out for other adventures.
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| Pullen Park, Raleigh |
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| The quiet entrance |
We arrived at 8:30 a.m. to a mostly empty parking lot. The park was open but the rides didn't start until 10 a.m. Happily, the playgrounds were open though still damp from summer overnight condensation. We've run into this problem before and have a rag in the car suitable for drying off slides and swing seats. The rag saw a lot of action that day.
Some items didn't need drying, like this fantastic spider web climber.
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| We miss these from England |
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| Toddler not yet ready for the web |
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| King of the web |
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| King close up |
Other play equipment was more accessible to everyone, including climbers and slides.
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| The 5-to-12 year old climbing area |
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| The 2-to-5 year old climbing area |
My kids tried out a see-saw, but unfortunately their weight differences were enough to make it a little challenging. They persevered.
 |
| Toddler and daughter on see-saw |
While the big kids climb over most everything, the toddler found what he likes best and spent nearly 40 minutes there.
 |
| I think this shot is now mandatory in my playground posts |
From our vantage point by the toddler swing set, we saw some more accomplishments by the older children.
 |
| Web king and queen |
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| Trying out a new web |
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| Rope-enhanced climbing! |
We also saw the kiddie boats which were not that appealing to me or the kids--another case of just the wrong sizes.
 |
| Waiting for 10 a.m. |
About 9:30 we decided to check the ticket office and the snack bar to see if they were open early. We wandered a little haphazardly and discovered the carousel building. The carousel was warming up but the doors weren't open yet.
 |
| Carousel building |
Nearby is a statue of Andy and Opie from The Andy Griffith Show. It was donated in 2003 by "the people of TV Land." My older son has watched the whole series so he was excited to pose with them.
 |
| Andy, son, and son |
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| Daughter and toddler pose too! |
We discovered the snack bar didn't open until 10:30 but the ticket office was about to open. By this time the park was filling up with people young and old. We waited in line for the longest ten minutes of the morning to buy tickets, then went over to the train for a ride. We didn't know how long the train ride would go but I was sure it would be longer than the carousel. After that excruciating ten minutes, I didn't want to take any chances.
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| Pullen Park train ready to pull out through a tunnel |
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| Ready riders |
The train ride was a pleasant six or seven minutes around the park. We saw the stream and the lake along with many of the attractions.
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| Stream |
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| Bridge over the stream |
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| View from the bridge |
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| After the bridge, looking on the lake |
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| Paddleboat! |
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| Some more lake |
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| Flowers in the park! |
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| The carousel again |
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| The playground |
After we got off the train, we investigated a caboose-like structure near the playground. Inside was not very impressive so we took no pictures.
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| Stranded caboose? |
We went over to ride the carousel. The building had an old-fashioned organ on display.
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| Wurlitzer organ |
The carousel itself is a Dentzel Carousel, like the one we rode in Philadelphia. It was built in 1912 and is an impressive and fun ride.
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| A shot of the carousel |
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| More of the rides |
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| The official poster from yesteryear |
My toddler wanted to ride on the outermost ring, which did not go up and down. We actually sat pretty far from my daughter and older son, which was fine with them.
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| Toddler and blogger |
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| Back of my daughter's head (and yes, the camera is zoomed) |
The art and imagination put into the figures still impresses me a lot.
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| Fierce donkey |
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| Cat with fish in mouth! |
After the carousel ride we finally had a snack and headed out for other adventures.
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