The Field Museum, Chicago

What to buy here: Sue Gold-Plated Ornament.

Sue is the center attraction of the Field Museum quite literally – the 40 ½-feet-long, 3,922-pound T-rex skeleton towers over visitors in the museum atrium. The 67 million-year-old skeleton was unveiled in May 2000 as the most complete and best preserved T-rex skeleton ever discovered. The skeleton is named in honor of fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson who discovered the bones in South Dakota. Bring the famed dinosaur into your home with a Sue gold-plated ornament. The 24K gold-plated brass will catch the light in the window, or bring a bit of Chicago and prehistory to your Christmas tree. The 5 ½-inch-long ornament costs $14 and comes in an attractive box for the perfect gift. The Field Museum store at 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. has Sue merchandise for everyone, from Sue replica claws and teeth for the serious collector or a paintable Sue figurine kit for kids. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas. While you’re on the museum campus, don’t miss the Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium. Be sure to take in the lakeside view of the city, great for photo ops.