We went with a Reggio Emilia preschool and were very pleased with it. There is NO focus on academics it's all learning through play and child led.
The first year one of the boys loved rockets so they focused on that for as long as the interest was there. The kids learned songs about rockets, read books, made their own rockets out of craft materials, build a rocket 'fort' in the playyard, etc.
We aren't there this year as I couldn't swing being in two places at once - DS in K here, DD in preschool there (20 mins away) with not-cooperative start/end times between the two places.
This year they built a new sand play area, furthered the garden, have 2 chickens, planted grape vines on the trellis the kids built last year with one of the parents.
DD is actually not in school at all this year as I couldn't find a place I liked that was worth it after their old school!
Have you looked specifically for learn through play, reggio emilia, or even montessori(some would possibly be a good fit, others wouldn't)?
Check out any cooperative schools too, they are typically more play based. People don't understand that plenty of learning is happening when it's not 'academic' based and that there is no need to sit down and teach them academics at this age. They'll learn it through play far easier than structured learning. My kids would have been bored to tears in a non play based school - and even then my DS continued learning and is WAY ahead of his K class. He entered reading and is doing 3rd grade math all coming out of a play based experience.
