The Play Lab is very nice play space on the ground floor of the Field Museum. It is best for preschoolers and younger, but elementary-aged kids will still enjoy it. There are a variety of play areas, with the biggest being a pueblo where kids can pick corn from stalks, but it in a "corn crib" for storage or in a pot to cook. There are also fossils to "uncover" (the fossils are in small bowls with fine sand, so kids need to be cautious to avoid sending it flying), as well as artifacts to look at under microscopes. There are also very nice art projects and a rhythm section with drums and other percussion instruments (in a separate room that contains the sound pretty well).
There is also a nice bathroom inside the Play Lab, and ample space for parking strollers.
TOPICS AND EXHIBITS