Reaching for the sky: Skydeck Chicago

Chicago, known as the birthplace of the skyscraper, is a living museum of modern architecture.

Recently during our Three days in Chicago, we decided to go checking out the Skydeck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower (still the Sears Tower in some people’s hearts). The Willis Tower is located on Wacker Avenue, with the Skydeck entrance on Jackson Boulevard. The tower is basically at the heart of downtown Chicago, with buildings and busy Chicago streets all around it.

This skydeck boasts views of 4 different states, on a clear day! Starting from the north, you’ll see many of the other notable skyscrapers that help make up Chicago’s iconic skyline; peer south and enjoy some good views attractions. Moving on to the east, you can feast your eyes on one of the largest freshwater lakes, Lake Michigan. Finally, the west view is all about the constant air traffic of O’Hare and Midway Airports.

The walkway over to the elevators is filled with interactive tidbits of information about the tower and the city. There’s a video featuring the history of the Willis Tower as well as other major landmarks in the Windy City post Chicago Fire.

If you dare to take your views to the next level, there’s also the Ledge — clear glass boxes that extend out from the tower and hover above the city streets.

I’m afraid of heights since I was little but it was fun coming all the way up and looking down from the building.

We took some pictures on a really sunny day!

The Skydeck can have some really long lines and wait times. We visited on a sunny, Saturday afternoon. There was a line to simply board the elevator that takes you down to a security checkpoint and the ticketing counters, and then another wait to board the elevators up to the Skydeck. If you can’t stand out waiting in line, buying a Fast Pass ahead of time can help you avoid some of it. In fact, I would say it’s a must on a weekend or on busy days! (Or buying a Chicago CityPASS will get you Fast Pass tickets to both of these attractions!)

Last but not least, we had a taste of Garrett’s popcorn known as a juggernaut and a tourist destination extraordinaire. If you’re unfamiliar, know one thing: Garrett Mix is the one. A heavenly combination of the CaramelCrisp and CheeseCorn flavors, after one bite you’ll need to scarf the whole bag! They are the perfect snack in the city, try them to believe me!