On the shores of Lake Michigan stands one of the most monumental museums in North America, with more than 20 million objects that tell the story of the earth itself. The Field Museum of Natural History is the place to go for discoveries big and small, with everything from Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus ever found, to a DNA Discovery center where some of the tiniest particles in nature form the essence of life. It sweeps through the ages, with a human cultural anthropology exhibit that gives visitors a look back to the dawn of humanity, and extensive Native American artifacts that illuminate the cultures that lived throughout history in the present-day United States. Now through March 28, 2010, The Field offers a bit of glitz, thanks to a temporary exhibit entitled The Nature of Diamonds. Learn how diamonds are formed, where they're discovered, and how humankind has valued them over the centuries, with examples of their many industrial and ornamental uses. Diamond envy may ensue. The museum is minutes from several Starwood hotels, including the stylish W Chicago - Lakeshore.