Willis Tower (Sears Tower), Chicago
Chicago , Illinois
60606
Tel: 312 875 9696
www.the-skydeck.com
Concierge.com's insider take:
Designed by renowned architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, this 1,353-foot landmark tower is one of the five tallest in the world (though Chicagoans, who measure buildings by the highest occupiable floor, would beg to differ). Some 1.5 million visitors take the ear-popping trip up to the 103rd-floor Skydeck every year. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois (about 40–50 miles); step onto one of the glass-floored balconies, and you can peer past your feet all the way to the ground. Inside, there are knee-high peepholes for kids, multilanguage maps and kiosks, and interactive exhibits. The best time to beat the crowds—and catch the sunset—is after 4 p.m.
Open daily April through September, 10 am to 10 pm; October through March, 10 am to 8 pm.