I have only been on the Skydeck once. I absolutely urge first-time visitors to check it out. The Chicago skyline from the deck is breathtakingly beautiful. You'll need to purchase tickets to enter. The lines can sometimes be long but they do try and control that. Of course they have a gift shop...a few actually. You can pay for a photo of yourself on the deck and you can also snap some of your own. Staff are accommodating. You are able to learn a lot of history as well as seeing other important historical displays about the city. Big touristy thing to do? Yep! Should you do it? Yep! read more

This is super touristy, but who cares, it's worth it! When in Chicago, this is a must do! We got the CityPass, which normally I would be bear-ish on something like that, but it was totally worth it. This is a pretty pricey single attraction for a family, but bundled with the 5 venue pass, this makes it much more reasonable. You also get the Expedited Entry included for free with your CityPass, which I would absolutely not pay the extra amount for (about $20 more per adult and $30 more per kid depending on the the day), but it made it super easy to get into the glass ledges. We went on a random Thursday, before most kids were out for the summer, and there was no wait to go up the elevator, and no wait for the expedited line for the ledges. They give you a set amount of time in the ledges, it seems like 90 seconds when it's busy and 2 mins 30 secs when it is slower, but you can get back in line and do it again. With the expedited pass we went 3 times into the ledges so that everyone could get all the photos they wanted. The rest of the view around the perimeter of the building was nice, and like I said when we went, not crowded, so we took our time and enjoyed the view. All told we probably spent an hour at the observation level. There is a gift shop up top, but everything they have up there, they also have in the lower level store (and more) when you exit the down elevator, so don't feel like you have to buy souvenirs up top. My boys chose a souvenir at the top and then had buyers remorse when they saw more for sale down below; thankfully they accepted returns and they were able to swap for the souvenirs they really wanted. All in all, this was worth the walk up Jackson from the Art Institute, and now I can say I have been in 3 buildings that when they were built were the tallest in the world! read more

I usually do not participate in gimmicky, touristy things like paying high prices for skyscraper views, but surprisingly enjoyed my visit here. The entrance is on the south side of Willis Tower and there is a food court on the ground floor. You follow the signs to two levels down to check in for the Skydeck. Before taking an elevator to the Skydeck, there is a bunch of selfie opportunities that showcase local Chicago landmarks, foods, and culture. I think this is to make the line seem more tolerable. I went on a weekday morning and there were barely any people, so I zipped through the museum fairly quickly. For tourists, it is an informative and fun area. Panoramic views are great on a clear day. Skydeck photo ops are limited to 90 seconds per group, but because there were not many people, the staff let each group take as long as they wanted. 1 star off: Just like many tourist attractions, the staff offers to take photos and charge exorbitant prices for them. They place a camera on the top of each Skydeck and takes a photo of you looking up. I caved in and paid $35 for it, but really think it should not cost $35 for one photo. They take additional photos with the Chicago skyline and such, but they looked kind of fake to me, so I did not purchase them. Overall, I spent about an hour here and thought I was entertained fairly well. read more

Not worth it, after waiting in the line for one hour we got 90 seconds only to get pictures, no time to enjoy the view at all. read more

Must see while in Chicago. We went in expecting to do the SkyDeck overlook but were really surprised and excited to see they had a whole walkthrough prior to reaching the elevator up to the sky deck. This was an all about Chicago museum that showcased history, culture, food, architecture, sports, television, and overall Chicago experience. The SkyDeck itself was amazing. Views were nice. We had to wait in line to step into the deck and you get 90 seconds for pictures, videos, or whatever. You are able to get in line again if you want another 90 seconds. You can do this as many times as you want. Keep in mind the line gets longer the later it gets into the day. The staff was really nice and helpful with taking pictures. read more

Skydeck Chicago - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Let me start by saying the main purpose of this visit was to step outside of my comfort zone--because I am terrified of heights. The staff at Skydeck Chicago were all very sweet and friendly throughout the experience. As you make your way up, you walk through a series of exhibits and fun facts about Chicago, which was a nice touch and made the wait feel more engaging. It really highlights what makes the city special. Once we reached the top, I quickly realized I had underestimated just how high the building actually is. When it was time to step out onto the ledge... I completely punked out! They tell you not to look down, but of course, your natural reaction is to do exactly that. There's a photographer ready to capture the moment when you step all the way out onto the glass, but truthfully, I couldn't make it all the way out. I gave it about 2.5 seconds of bravery before my fear kicked in! Even with my moment of panic, I'm still really glad I went. It was definitely an unforgettable experience and a fun way to challenge myself. read more

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I thought I came here after few years ago, but that must have been the 360. My son and I had go city passes and we took the big bus here. We didn't have reservations on time but she just added us. They had cute chicago food displays. My son and I took pictures and walked to the ledge for pictures. I did splurge and bought the $35 photos they took too. The views of Chicago from up high at 103rd floor were awesome. Highly recommend! read more

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Our activity while in Chicago was to check out the Sky Deck. Tickets were a bit pricey but, I would suggest trying Groupon for discounted tickets. The location is inside of building with a large food court. I was not expecting a full on museum of all of popular food, culture and celebrity natives of Chicago but, I absolutely love it. It was pretty crowded especially when we got upstairs however, the line was moving pretty quickly. We were able to take pictures and see great angles of the city. The Ledge was pretty cool. Definitely a must visit read more

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I've been to many observation decks, and this one, in my opinion, isn't as impressive. It's just a short walk around one floor with nothing much besides a gift shop and the glass ledge where you can take pictures standing on the see-through glass. We finished walking around in about ten minutes. We got our tickets through the CityPASS, which gave us expedited entry (definitely worth it since the regular lines were long). Expedited entry also includes fast access to the ledge, and you can go back in line as many times as you want for photos. The regular line looked like a 1-2 hour wait--totally not worth it! read more

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Great views of Chicago. We went because it was 1 of the attractions on the City Pass, which gave us perks such as priority line to ride the elevator up to the Skydeck & for "The Ledge" to take pictures over the glass floor/wall. read more

"Do one thing every day that scares you", Baz Luhrman sang. Visiting the Skydeck checked that box. (Acrophobia is REAL!) We got there in broad daylight and stayed until it was dark. Both were sensational in different ways. We saw some amazing things, in more than one sense! Plus, visiting on 9/11 made it extra special. Chicago, we were really impressed. Never forget! Just for the record, the name should have stayed "Sears Tower". read more

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I'm honestly confused on the 3.5 rating. The first time I visited Chicago, my friend and I went to the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and I prefer this experience. Being able to go through a bit of history before getting to the gift shop and the ledge is such a nice touch. If you're visiting out of town, I definitely recommend you do this prior to going on a boat architecture tour. Learning more about the architecture around the city, then seeing it in person is a nice sequence. We went at night and we maybe waited 20 minutes in line? I didn't think it was an extensive wait. It's two parties per box and you both get a photo before your 60 seconds start for your own photos. It was a little rushed but you feel grateful when you realize how much longer you would have to wait in line if this wasn't enforced. We really liked the photo they took of us and thought it was worth buying. If you buy any prints, you get all the digital photos. read more

Skydeck Chicago - Ledge photo - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great views. A trip to the ledge will set you back $54/person plus a processing fee. Exhibits leads you to a line to queue for the elevator which takes you to the 103rd floor. Another queue to get to the ledge. Timers are set for 90 seconds once on the ledge to keep the line moving. Great views and less scary than you'd think. On a clear day it's definitely worth a visit. Several food options in the main level including shake shack and a sushi bar. read more

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At the time of our visit (August 2022), the interactive museum was new. It was really cool to walk through and see the highlights of Chicago. We probably spent 20-30 minutes going through the exhibit. I liked the mock L-train ride and it felt like you were really riding the train. The museum featured things like the Chicago culinary scene, architecture, sports, and local celebrities. There were lots of photo ops too. Once we got to the 103rd floor, we didn't have to wait long to get on the deck (less than 5 minutes). It was a bit foggy and rainy so the views weren't as great, but it was still cool to be up there. The glass deck wasn't that scary (the elevator ride was more scary to me than the views from the glass floor lol). They allow 90 seconds for each party to hang on the deck so take all of the photos that you can. We did end up paying for the professional photos as a keepsake. Once you get your photos on the ledge, you can roam around and take in the views. They have a few information panels that point out other landmarks depending on the direction that you're facing. There's also a gift shop that sells Chicago themed merchandise. Even though the weather wasn't great, I still enjoyed our visit. read more

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The Willis Tower is a cool spot in Chicago as it's home of the SkyDeck, the viewing spot on the 104th floor. Here you can walk around and embrace the skylines, and you can also wait in line to stand in one of their glass boxes for a free photo op included in your ticket. We visited right before close at night so there were long lines to visit the glass boxes. They only give you 90 seconds to take photos--good for line management, rushed for enjoying. You also had to walk through a "museum" type features before hitting the elevators. It was cool but we didn't take our time through it since we went through so late at night. It took us about 10 minutes to walk through with very little stops. After you finish that, you get to the elevators Overall it gave a cool perspective of the city. It's on opposite ends of the other tower that offers this, so you see different views. read more

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Had a great time on Monday up high! The line to get up and down moved quickly but still could have been managed a little better. The museum aspect was really cool and loved getting to learn more about Chicago and the area The sky deck itself is so cool! I love the mechanics and experience. It's thrilling and a great memory to make read more

Skydeck Chicago - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you do nothing else somewhat touristy while in Chicago you simply must do this (but clearly only do so if you are NOT afraid of heights). I was a little anxious about going out onto the ledge but am so very glad I did. It was so breathtaking and memorable! Being it was near Christmas there was also a LOT of fun photo ops all along the way up. read more

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I love a good view and Skydeck certainly offers good views. I got tickets through CityPass Chicago and booking a timeslot was pretty easy via the CityPass app. I went on Memorial Day and booked 9:30AM, one of the earliest time slots. Since we went so early there wasn't really a line and it wasn't so crowded up top. On our way down it was definitely getting more packed. You walk some halls that play videos and have little blurbs talking about the history of Chicago and the history of the building. I enjoyed that a lot. This all leads up to an elevator to the 104th floor. The walls of the elevator play a cool video as well which I appreciated. Once you're up you walk around and take in the views. One of the sides has "The Ledge" which is part of the experience that allows you to walk out into a glass box to get a different perspective. Honestly, it feels pretty freaky looking down and stepping into the box, but I'm also afraid of heights. You're limited to 90 seconds in the box and they're pretty tight with it; I heard a timer go off regularly. Apparently, you're allowed to rejoin the queue after your turn so I can see the line getting pretty long. All-in-all it's a good experience. Staff is friendly and the place is clean. Skydeck is definitely worth a visit, just try to go early. I also visited 360 Chicago during my trip to Chicago and I think 360 has better views. However, I think Skydeck was a better experience leading up to the observation deck. I don't think there's a clear-cut answer to which one is better, maybe you can do both and decide for yourself. If I HAD to pick just one though, I'd probably go 360 Chicago. read more

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Come for the view, stay for the 90-seconds you're allotted! So the downside -- which is understandable -- is the quick, rushed time, literal 90 second you get on the ledge. But let's focus on the up side... not much to compare this to in terms of views. And once you've made it up to the sky deck, you can take your time at each of the South, East, North sides of the tower with awe-inspiring views. There is a gift shop at the top, but, really what better souvenir would you need past the amazing portrait from 103 floors above the city. There's an immersive experience on your way to the elevators, and then of course there's "The Ledge," which really does give you a view; STRAIGHT. DOWN. It's rather intense, but we got everyone on the ledge, and the house photo was probably one of the best. Even the elevator rides up to and down from were immersive... instead of wall or windows, they're screens that present just the right amount of narrated context on each trip to (almost) make you forget you're sardine'd into an elevator with 15 other people traveling 24 ft per second. Overall it was well worth the price of admission. read more

Skydeck Chicago - If you want to go up, you gotta go down! - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visited Skydeck Chicago and loved the views, absolutely stunning. Super cool experience overall. Some crowds, but still totally worth it! read more

Skydeck Chicago - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had to check out the iconic skydeck Chicago and take some photos at the ledge! The tickets come with sticker shock - a whopping $43 per person (plus fees it came out to be over $90 for 2 people). We learned a lot about Chicago history/architecture, the photo ops and facility were all nice. They're a bit aggressive while trying to herd the crowd through security check, but rest of the staff were friendly. Overall would recommend you check this out if you want to do something touristy in Chicago! read more

Skydeck Chicago - View from the top - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you like to wait in lines you'll love it here Very expensive, unfriendly staff Waited in line to get to the top for over an hour, then get to the top to see another long line to only be able to spend 60 seconds on the ledge read more

Although I Ubered here... I didn't end up doing the full experience due to the deceptive marketing. The marketing and the price and consistency felt like a bait and switch. I talked with the staff members downstairs who seemed to not care nor be willing to fix the issues. read more

In recent years another great excursion to do while in Chicago is to the Skydeck which is located in Willis Tower. I had the pleasure of going a couple of years back & wanted to revisit for another great experience. There are two tickets you can buy: general admission or expedited entry. You will have to go through a couple of security check points before going up. A staff member escorts you to the elevators which is like a ride in itself. The elevator takes you up to the 157 floor to see the incredible views. I wouldn't advise anyone who has acrophobia to partake in this excursion. One of the famous aspects of this excursion is the glass chamber that gives you a 360 view of the city. It's breathtaking and nerve racking at the same time. They take professional photos of you which you can purchase once you leave the Skydeck area downstairs. read more

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This is definitely an overhyped attraction. I wish I spent more time researching to know that there are better things to do in Chicago. There were a lot of people and the views were limited. In order to take photos on the ledge (glass ledge looking down) you have to line up. And then you get only 90 seconds to take photos on your own. I'm glad I paid extra for priority because the main line for the elevator would have been 30 min wait and the main line to the ledge would have been over an hour wait. It was an expensive and short experience. I do appreciate that the photos can be digitally sent as a postcard for free and I didn't have to purchase any of the photos. (We chose to do something similar in Boston at the Prudential Center and this was sooooo much better than the SkyDeck) read more

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I purchased my ticket in advanced and they let everyone in based on the ticket time. You don't necessarily need the expedite line as everything flowed fairly quickly in the regular line. You enter through a security check and they'll take a quick photo before you head towards the attractions to view while you're making your way up. The elevator up is very fast and you reach the top in no time! There are multiple view points to take pictures/videos before going to the ledge. Once there, it's an amazing view (and feeling)! You get 9 minutes, a few photos are taken, and the rest is on you! They have a gift shop to purchase items from (and your pictures) once you leave. Definitely a must stop when you're in town! read more

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It was not what I had anticipated here at Skydeck Chicago, and it was pretty underwhelming! It just wasn't worth the time and money. Arriving at the Willis Tower, we walked through the doors to see a food court and walked to the Skydeck Signs to go downstairs to the Skydeck area. We then went to take a weird photo op of the Skydeck before we were on top to experience it. On our way to the elevator, we explored a maze of the history of Chicago with other photo ops like Michael Jordan dunking. We didn't pay attention to it much but its very informative. Once you go up the elevator, you experience a 360-degree view of Chicago and can take pictures while enjoying their gift shop. On the other side of the floor is the line for the glass part that sticks out of the building. We waited 30 minutes to get 1 minute of photos and felt rushed overall. The worst part was the lighting stunk, and when we went below, they offered our photos taken in that 1 minute from the Skydeck itself, and the lighting was perfect. You can't even take a picture of those pictures :( read more

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The sky deck was an attraction on the all include go city pass that my party of 3 had. We made an online reservation 10:30am and arrived around that time. It wasn't busy at all. You enter the building to food court and must go down two floors first. Before going to the top, there is a really cool immersive experience. It takes you through the music, the food, the subway, Chicago legends, landmarks, etc. The elevator ride to the 103 floor was also immersive and informative as the wall was a screen with information. Your eyes will pop and feel weird during the elevator ride. It travels at 18 MPH The line to get to the elevator to go to the top floor wasn't bad. However, once up top, the general admission line for the ledge was long. They had 5 spots I believe and one express lane. It moved at a decent pace. They put two groups at a time on each ledge with a time limit of about 90 seconds which goes by FAST! It really should be longer, considering how long you could wait. I will add that you can get in line again but who would do that? This was a pretty cool experiences and the views were great. Unfortunately, it was a cloud day. Of my 8 day trip, only 1 day was it partly sunny. When it was time to leave, the line for the elevators to leave was also very long. They take your picture on a green screen before going to the top and again when you do the ledge. The pictures are expensive. It $35 for a "set" of the photo from upstairs OR the one at the beginning; and $45 for both. For me, I wouldn't pay for pictures with a green screen and I honestly feel that one picture should be included in admission, considering the regular cost of it. The items in the gift shop were pretty pricey. I'm not sure why businesses do this? They would make a lot more money by making the prices reasonable, in my opinion. If I had paid for this separately, I'd be disappointed. read more

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My husband was nice enough to book this attraction for us. It was fabulous. You take a quick elevator up to the 103rd floor with great views of Chicago. Highly recommend this. read more

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The skydeck at the Sears tower is worth doing if you have the time to spare. The lines to get up the elevator and to take the picture in the glass box can be long depending on the time of day so I'd say give yourself at the least 2 hours if you want to have somewhat of an enjoyable experience here. The adult ticket price ranges from $35-$50 again depending on how busy it is for the time of day. Downstairs on the way to the elevator line there are lots of photo ops and Chicago history to read about. Once you're at the top you can see the city from every direction, and then there's the line to wait for your chance to take a picture in the box. The staff will have you first take a professional picture that you have the option to purchase downstairs then you have 60-90 seconds to take your own photos. From what I saw after your time in the box you might be allowed to go back in line to wait again if you want to take more photos. read more

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Great way to get unique panoramic views of the city and get great photo opportunities. We got our tickets through CityPass, which is a good value if you're doing multiple touristy attractions. You get expedited entry which saves time checking in, time going up the elevator and time on the ledge. Even without CityPass, paying the extra $10 for expedited access is well worth the time you save. Once you get up to the observation level, you can take in all the great views from 103 stories high. You then line up for your groups 90 second turn on the ledge. You can line up multiple times. Again this is where the expedited access helps. We were able to access the ledge twice in the same duration as the regular line went once. On days that are cloudy or rainy definitely check their webcam and consider rescheduling. If you're in town for a few days you want to book this early in your trip so you have the option to reschedule for a later day. read more

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Other than the cool photo opportunities this place puts mid into the mid-west. You have 60 seconds to take photos after waiting for close to an hour/hour and half to actually get said pictures. I would rather have 3 mins to take photos if I'm waiting so long it would be worth the extra wait. - they let "expedited tickets" cut in front of people who have waited longer than the people have been in the building. Giving the eat the rich vibes. But not shocked nor surprised. - add 20 minutes on to just get back down to the bottom. Because again there is a line to exit this place. For close to $70 for two people to get in on a foggy ass day is bullshit Don't waste your time or money. I could photoshop some better pictures read more

I visited both Skydeck and 360 on a recent trip to Chicago, and enjoyed Skydeck much more. Not only is it taller, but it's less crowded (though to be fair, we went on a Sunday morning versus a Saturday night at 360), and there's The Ledge, which comes with the ticket. It's a little counter-intuitive getting to the entrance, though. If you enter the building from the main street, you have to go down escalators, then you can take the elevator up to Skydeck. Our ears popped so many times going up. We appreciated the video on the way up as well - very informative. At the top, there are beautiful views of the city, lake, and other states. It was sunny when we were on the ground floor, and on the top floor the wind was very strong - my son loved seeing the clouds zipping by at eye level. This also made The Ledge a little spooky at times because standing out there we couldn't see anything, only clouds, until there was a break in the visibility. There's also a sequin wall to "leave your mark", which was a cool interactive bit. There's a gift shop at the top, and another at the bottom where you can buy the overpriced photos they take of you. read more

Skydeck Chicago - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So the weather was really bad. The elevators had to be shut down so we could not go to the top. I asked for a refund and the guy said no. He wanted us to reschedule. We are there for a vacation so rescheduling is not really an option as we have other things to do. After some discussion , I got a refund except they would not refund the $5 service charge. I will not go on skydeck in the future. They should give a complete refund when the elevators shut down out of safety. It's not like we changed plans. They were the ones who shut down the elevator due to high winds. read more

Located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower) on S. Wacker Dr. and W. Jackson Blvd. Our tickets to the SkyDeck were part of the CityPass, and it was such a great selection. We got to enjoy the phenomenal view of Chicago's architecture and even stepped on 'The Ledge', which is a glass floored balcony/box perched 4.3 feet outside of the Willis Tower. We were allowed 90 seconds to stand on it and take pictures. It was such an incredible experience, and I'm glad we got to do this. read more

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The Skydeck offers the best views of Chicago. The Chicago Museum is located in the entrance and gives the visitors a tour of Chicago. My favorite is the CTA L train! Great place to spend a day ! read more

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Very informative on Chicago history. Reasonable ticket prices and lots of availability. Best to go in morning before it gets too busy. It's probably really pretty at night too. Nice city views from all four sides of the building. Nice experience alone or with a group. They have a souvenir gift shop too. Fun but not sure I'd do it again, definitely worth the experience though. read more

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You must come here on your trip to Chicago! Order your tickets online and make sure to get the expedited entry! My party and I came a little earlier than our actual time and they let us in! Very smooth from entry, viewing to leaving! Check out the gift shops too! The views are awesome and make sure to check out the ledge! Staff friendly and accommodating! read more

Skydeck Chicago - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was such a lovely experience!! The photos came out great and the history walk at the beginning was a sweet touch. read more

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For my 800th review I'm going to review one of the places I always wanted to visit and finally did so on my birthday last month. Heights are usually not my thing, depending on what. And even though millions of people have walked on the glass skydeck, people still thought I was crazy to do it. Getting to Skydeck is easy to get to, and the workers on the ground floor of the Willis Tower (or to Chicago locals who won't let it go, the Sears Tower) were very helpful. Weirdly, you have to go two floors down, and go through a Chicago history lesson exhibit to get to the elevators. The ride is about not even two minutes and you're on the 103rd floor without even knowing it. The people who worked up there were also friendly. There is a gift shop, and of course all the viewing areas. You can view from all four sides. They only allow two minutes on the glass platform but as long as there is no one waiting in line I don't think they care that much. But if there is, you can go back in line and step on another platform. You can spend as long as you like up there, and to me - the novelty never wore off. It was cool being on the same level as clouds. My only thing is I wish I had better knowledge of the city of Chicago as I wasn't familiar with any of the buildings beneath me. read more

Skydeck Chicago - Just chillin' on top of the city - Observatories Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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