John Hancock Center, Chicago

4 more images

part two of my 2 part Hancock Tower Tips with more pictures.

I like the hancock tower more than the Willis tower even though the Willis tower is taller and why? because the Willis tower does not have the awesomeness of a Signature Room and Lounge on the top floors, that is why! This skyscraper was named for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, a developer and original tenant of the building and the buiding opened in 1968 and since then, offered an alternative view to the famed Willis Tower and the Observatory is a direct competitor of the Skydeck of the Willis Tower. The John Hancock Center is a multifunction building that includes 48 stories of apartments, 29 stories of offices, shops, a hotel, a swimming pool, an ice rink, restaurant and on top of the 344 meters (1127 ft) tall building radio and television facilities. This is a two part tip with more pictures of the Hancock Tower.

John Hancock Observatory
888.875.VIEW phone
Open 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Daily

Total Tower Experience - includes a General Admission ticket, open-air Skywalk, exclusive JHO souvenir and a turn on our new interactive telescopes.

Adults (12+) ....................$23
Youth (3-11) ....................$18
Children (under 3) ............FREE*

(pls see my separate Signature Room at 95th and Lounge Tips)

4 more images

I like the hancock tower more than the Willis tower even though the Willis tower is taller and why? because the Willis tower does not have the awesomeness of a Signature Room and Lounge on the top floors, that is why! This skyscraper was named for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, a developer and original tenant of the building and the buiding opened in 1968 and since then, offered an alternative view to the famed Willis Tower and the Observatory is a direct competitor of the Skydeck of the Willis Tower. The John Hancock Center is a multifunction building that includes 48 stories of apartments, 29 stories of offices, shops, a hotel, a swimming pool, an ice rink, restaurant and on top of the 344 meters (1127 ft) tall building radio and television facilities. This is a two part tip with more pictures of the Hancock Tower.

John Hancock Observatory
888.875.VIEW phone
Open 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Daily

Total Tower Experience - includes a General Admission ticket, open-air Skywalk, exclusive JHO souvenir and a turn on our new interactive telescopes.

Adults (12+) ....................$23
Youth (3-11) ....................$18
Children (under 3) ............FREE*

(pls see my separate Signature Room at 95th and Lounge Tips)

2 more images

Not only the Sears Tower offers marvelous views over the city and Lake Michigan, but on sunny days you climb that landmark! After that, enjoy lunch or dinner in the Cheescake Factory, one of the countries great chain restaurants. I have to make a separate tip for that, oh oh.

1 more image

100 stories high, the lesser known & smaller skyscraper compared to the Willis Tower (ex Sears tower). The observatory is on the 94th floor and gives an awesome view of the city and Lake Michigan. Great way to chill out and look down on the city, there's also a section where it's "open air" so you can feel the wind and hear the street noise.
They have a "Sun & Stars" which only costs a little a more than the regular ticket so you can visit in the morning and then go back as often as you want, say if it was the summer and there was a firework show on Lake Michigan.

3 more images

This distinctive 100 storey building constructed in 1970 is a Chicago landmark. It's home to offices, shops, restaurants and apartments.

The main reason to visit though is the observatory on the 94th floor. From here the Observatory and the open-air Skywalk give you stunning views of Chicago.

The Observatory is open daily between 9am & 11pm. Prices can be found on the website below.

The John Hancock observatory and Signature Room offer among the best views in Chicago. On a clear day, the views from this skyscraper are quite breathtaking, towering over all of downtown Chicago, the Loop, the River, Navy Pier, and more. You can see many of the iconic Chicago sites from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I think you might have to pay to actually enter the J.H. observatory, so a nice way to get the view but avoid paying an entrance fee is to order something (appetizers, drinks) at the Signature Room, on the 95th floor of the building. That way, you can get the view and some snacks!

I've been to the Signature Room twice. Once, it was a beautiful and clear day, but on my second visit, it was quite foggy. On a foggy day, it's just not quite the same...

1 more image

The John Hancock building is located North of the Chicago river. At the top is the Hancock Observatory that gives outstanding 360 degree views of the city. The skywalk is located 94 stories up and is open air. Although it's open air there is no chance of falling, rails and screens are in place to prevent that. Should it be cold outside, you can opt to skip the skywalk part and still enjoy the 360 degree views from inside. There are lots of signs inside that point out landmarks and let you know a little about the history of what you are looking at.

It was a great quick stop on our touring and really gave an excellent aerial view of Chicago.

2 more images

The 100-story John Hancock Center was completed in 1969 and at 344 m tall, it is currently the third highest building in Chicago. The Hancock Observatory is located on the 94th floor of the building and offers a great view of downtown Chicago. At $15, tickets are a bit more expensive than those at the more popular Sears Tower's Skydeck, but it's usually less crowded (there was no line-up at all when I showed up). The elevator ride to the observatory lasts 40 seconds, and there's a funny pre-recorded message that helps take your mind off the fact that you're traveling at 32 km/h. Once you reach the Observatory, you can walk around the floor to take pictures, although I was a bit disappointed to find out that it's nearly impossible to take pictures on the skywalk, the only portion of the floor that is screened. Everywhere else there are windows, which makes taking night pics quite difficult if you've got an automatic camera like mine. The good news is that for an extra $3, your ticket can give you access to the Observatory the next day if you want to take both day and night shots. Another nice feature of the Observatory is that there is some interesting information about the history of Chicago along the walls, as well as a souvenir store.

The Hancock Observatory is open every day from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.