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CHELSEA & CAROLINE

Dorthea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC

This week we celebrated our twins turning 10 (holy cow) by playing hooky on Monday! We took a family day to visit Raleigh’s newest inhabitants – the trolls at Dorthea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC!

I posted about the world famous Thomas Dambo trolls a couple of weeks ago, and it was so much fun to find these 5 trolls with the Raleigh skyline in the background.

Going on a Troll Hunt

You can find the troll map & details here. Definitely do not miss seeing all 5! We each had a different favorite, but more than anything loved the adventure and gorgeous walk around Dorthea Dix Park to find each troll.

We decided to start with Mother Strong Tail & Dix. The kids loved these two because they got to walk along mother’s tail through the woods. The first troll we ever visited in Denmark had a similar tail, so they really loved this connection!

I found it pretty on brand that the mom was trying to catch a nap while one kid held onto her (literal) tail, the other kids played nearby, and dad was chilling across the park just having a relaxing sit by a tree. No offense to my wonderful & very involved husband – ha.

My kids loved the action involved in Dax & Dux, and I have to say I agree. It’s so incredible to me that people (over 300 volunteers!) built these in just a few weeks and made them come to life in the coolest way.

Adventures Along the Way

I highly suggest bringing camera along to document and let your kids document if possible. While I was grabbing some shots with my “big” camera, my husband caught a few really fun snaps with our Instax. Our kids loved using their Camp Snap cameras & Max’s CS-8, which was a birthday gift the night before (thanks, Care Care!).

(PS – use this link for $10 off a Camp Snap purchase! Our kids have loved and used their Camp Snap cameras for over a year, and the new CS-8 is absolutely amazing. This is an affiliate link, so we make a small commission if you choose to purchase with this discount, at no extra charge to you!)

Also be sure to read the signs to discover a fairytale that connects Raleigh’s trolls with their teenage siblings in High Point & Charlotte. You’ll want to make note of the codes that will help you uncover a secret symbol that will reveal the location of the enchanted grandmother tree.

Our kids now have said codes written in a journal and are begging us to go to High Point asap!

Last but not least…

After your troll hunt, be sure to leave some time for hammock swinging and playground adventuring. I love when playgrounds are so entertaining even for our 7-11 year olds, and this one definitely was that!

And if you’re hungry when you leave, I wouldn’t blame you if you stopped by Howling Cow (aka our favorite ice cream in the triangle) for some ice cream nachos. You may even get to watch a beautiful sunset & moonrise if you’re lucky.