Take the Kids: UNC-TV's Rootle Wonderland at NC State Fair offers low-key play for young kids

It's fantastic spot for families with young kids to enjoy some low-key fun.

Posted 12:08 a.m. Oct 19, 2018 — Updated 8:38 p.m. Oct 19, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

RALEIGH, N.C. — Back when my tween and teen were teeny, we spent a lot of time at UNC-TV's large tent at the NC State Fair.

Next to Dorton Arena, the tent featured big cutouts of their favorite PBS Kids characters, along with some hands-on activities and play that were a welcome break from the action elsewhere on the fairgrounds.

Fast forward a few years and I'm sad to say that my kids have outgrown the tent, now dubbed Rootle Wonderland, but it's still a fantastic spot for families with young kids to enjoy some low-key fun.

This year, the tent offers a variety of new activities - including a sock rink, a pretend ice rink where you can skate around on for a small donation, according to fairgoers. There's also a building area with giant Lego-like bricks, a large Connect 4 game and other blocks. Bonus for parents: There's a good bit of seating.

Outside the tent, there is cornhole and plenty of cardboard cutouts for photo opps. (Be sure to go around the back of the tent to find all of the characters.)

Here's a quick look inside the Rootle Wonderland tent ...

Entrance into the tent is free with fair admission. It's open daily through the run of the fair, which ends Sunday, Oct. 21.

Go Ask Mom’s Take the Kids series is your No. 1 resource for weekly ideas about kid-focused places to take your family in the Triangle and beyond. New articles are published every Friday.

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