Which Chicago skyscraper observation deck is better? We visited both
That's what my family of four noticed right away as we stepped out onto the 1,353-foot-high glass balcony jutting out from the Willis Tower, the city's tallest skyscraper.
Then we looked down.
Through the 1.5-inch laminated glass panel floor beneath our feet, we could see tiny boats cruising along the Chicago River and traffic backing up on Wacker Drive.
The experience - called the Ledge at Skydeck Chicago - was an unexpected highlight during a recent family getaway. So was our time spent across town at the 94th-floor 360 Chicago, which has its own patented thrill experience: a row of moving glass ledges called TILT.
When planning our five-day visit to Chicago, we didn't necessarily expect to make a stop at one, let alone two, of the city's sky-high observatories.
It was our kids' first visit to the Windy City. We knew Millennium Park and its Bean sculpture (officially named Cloud Gate and now reopened after plaza renovations) was a must-stop, along with a few other recommended attractions and restaurants. And we tried to narrow down which of Chicago's fabulous array of museums our 8- and 10-year-old would like best.
But once we decided to try to save on admission by getting CityPASS Chicago tickets ($142 for adults and $112 for kids), we added an elevator ride at the Willis Tower to the itinerary.
That's because every CityPASS includes upfront admission to Skydeck Chicago, as well as the Shedd Aquarium. It also allowed us to pick three more from a list of six top attractions like the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium and an architecture river tour. The passes, which I easily accessed through the CityPASS app, are usable for up to nine days.
We had a great time at the aquarium, and for the other stops we chose the Art Institute of Chicago, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and - at our kids' request - the 360 Chicago observation deck at 875 North Michigan Avenue (often still referred to as the John Hancock Center).
Last year, 360 Chicago updated its viewing platform and adjacent CloudBar cocktail lounge with floor and window murals and decor by area artists. The observatory also renovated and added art installations to the entry concourse that we walked through to get to the elevators.
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