Travel
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

Chicago: Hancock vs. Sears/Willis Tower?

Heading to Chicago this weekend- going with my bff, her 15yo daughter and our friend (our age)- we're in early/mid 30s.

BFF and I have been to Chicago, but 15yo daughter and other friend have never been.

Should we go to Hancock Tower or Sears/Willis Tower? It's been ages since I've been to either, but all I remember about the Hancock Tower was when we go up to the Signature Room and get drinks... am I missing anything? Which one would be a better option? 

Re: Chicago: Hancock vs. Sears/Willis Tower?

  • I've never done the Sears Tower. We did the Hancock because it was free (well the cost of a drink) to go up the signature room.
    image
    ~2012 Races~
    American Birkenbeiner - 50K Ski 3:19:00
    Davenport St. Patrick's Day Fun Run - 5K 21:58
    UIVA Warrior Challenge - 5K 22:06
    Iowa City River Run - 10K 44:37 PR!
    Green Bay Marathon 5/20/12
  • They might like the Sears Tower better as they have the skydeck that you can step out over the city and look straight down.
    Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
  • I like the Hancock for the audio tour done by David Schwimmer.  We've also gotten dessert at the restaurant, which was nice.  The former was during the day, so that was cool to walk all the way around.  The latter was at night so it was OK that our view was hindered by people sitting in front of the other windows.  

    Hancock is in the middle of everything, which makes it cooler to me.  

    Like any good super hero, I'm using my alter ego to protect my identity. Goodbye Silver poster status!
  • IMO the view is slightly better from the Hancock because you can north up the shore, although I haven't been to the actual viewing deck in years because I just go to the bar at the top and get a drink. And along the lines of what 0225eiluj said, the Sears is in the middle of the business district and it can be a bit dead down there on weekends.
    image
    Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
    Mark Twain

    My Travel Blog

  • The lunch buffett at the Hancock Tower is pretty good - but I'm not sure if they have it during the weekend...  Like pp said, Hancock is closer to shopping & more things, etc.  You could possibly do both...?  The Sears Tower does have the skydeck though, so it's really a toss up...
  • I really enjoyed the glass platforms at Sears Tower.
    I'd rather be rock climbing or playing volleyball
    imageimage
  • I vote for the Hancock, however I am quite biased as I've lived in Chicago for 9 years and I've never gone to the Willis Tower.

    If I wasn't scared to death of heights, I'd definitely check out the Skydeck Glass Box thingys though, just because they seem cool (I get anxious thinking about them, so I probably won't do it ever).  But that's really the only thing the Willis has over the Hancock.  The views are better from the Hancock and you can just pay a fee to drink and see the view, not just pay to see the view like at the Willis.

     

  • You really have three options:

    1. Skydeck (Willis Tower). Has the Ledge (clear boxes jutting out over the side), lots of information, pretty cool. Kinda pricey. Can be a long wait if you go on the weekend. I recommend a weekday and go first thing in the morning.

    2. Hancock Observatory. Smaller than Skydeck. I think it's less expensive, but you can look that up on the website.

    3. Signature Lounge (Hancock). You can go up for free but need to actually sit down and have a drink/food in order to stay up there. If it's really busy they restrict people just walking around without having a table.

    Great views from either building. Just depends on how much you want to spend and how much time you have.  

    image
  • usx4usx4 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments

    i *heart* Chicago!!

    I liked them both - the hancock you can sit and eat, the willis has those cool platforms you can step out on which could be fun for the 15 yr old (it was fun for me and i was 31) :)

Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards