About 10 years ago, I went by the Sears Tower while visiting Chicago on business. What astounded me was how dirty & littered the Plaza in front of the building was. Trash & litter blowing all over the place – and nobody seeming to care, or even notice. I couldn’t understand how they could allow a showplace building, with the company name on it, to be so messy & juncky looking.
But that was my impression of Chicago in general. There were actually junked cars in the median ditch between lanes of highways – cars that had been there for weeks! The taxi driver actually told us that they always found some junked cars in the median when the snow melted, and they would probably be removed by the city – in a few weeks!
It’s because of the new skydecks on the 103rd floor. My girlfriend and I went up to the 99th floor (the 103rd was closed to install the skydecks) in mid-June on a Monday afternoon. No wait at all, no huge crowds to speak of. At that time, it cost $14 each to go to the top, which seems pretty reasonable to me (cheaper than the Rockefellar Center in NYC in March). Ever since they installed the skydecks (which do look awesome, but terrifying), the crowds have gotten really heavy.
Yeah, the last time I remember being at the Sears Tower a few years ago there was no line to speak of. However, when I tried going there two weeks ago, in the middle of the week around lunchtime, the line was enormous, at least a hundred deep outside the entrance. And who knows how many more inside. Clearly, the new ledge they just built must have a lot to do with it – that was the only reason I was heading up to the Sears (but of course turned back after seeing that line.)
Sounds like the regular trip through the monument (which is a blast nonetheless). I’m talking about something completely different (and since I’m asking if they still do it, this may be a moot description). The regular tour is elevator up/elevator down. This was elevator up – walk down. The walk down was the whole point of the special ticket. This was back in, oh, maybe 1999 - 2004 or so when I lived there, the last time I did it was probably closer to the turn of the century.
ETA: Wow, looks like they’re still doing it. Google Washington Monument walk down tour and you’ll get lots of hits.
The city’s cleaned up a lot since then. (In fact, that’s been a criticism of some against Daley, that he’s too interested in the superficial looks.) Most visitors that I show around are impressed with the cleanliness and friendliness. It’s not Minneapolis-level clean but close, in the better areas of town.
Thirded. I’ve been in both, and the view from the Hancock is so much better that the idea that people would wait in line for the Sears Tower is laughable. The view over the lake to the east, the view over the Gold Coast to the north, the view of the Loop to the south and the view of the Water Tower and everything else to the west. No comparison.
For whatever it’s worth, every time I’ve been to the Signature Lounge at the Hancock, there’s been kids there. Also, provided you go during the day and not at night when it becomes more of a nightspot, the dress is pretty casual. I always dress up a little just because I’m out and about but there’s always people in jeans, shorts, t-shirts, etc.
Agreed though with the crowd – a free view from the Hancock with a $10 turkey sandwich and a $3 Coke beats a $14 ticket up the Sears with the lines and movie and the rest of it.
I did that in the mid 90’s or so. Didn’t even need a ticket from the morning. The walk-down tours were at 10:00 and 2:00; I showed up at 1:55 and was the only one. Another family just wanted to see the top, but joined our group to skip the line. There wasn’t much time to study the stones, though. The ranger just kept walking. I’m glad they’re still doing the tours; so many things have closed.
I’ve heard they recently reopened the Statue of Liberty. I went to the crown in '82, but then never again after the restoration. I’ll have to look into that.
Did the Sears Tower about three years ago. No wait to speak of.
Empire State Building twice. Once was about 30 minutes before midnight (when it closes), no line at all.
World Trade Center twice. The first time, there were escalators with signs that said “closed due to high winds.” I figured that they couldn’t possibly let people on the roof. (But what the hell else could that sign mean?) Well, the second time, the escalators were open, and there I was, on the roof. I’ve never been scared of heights before, but something about that started doing a number on me. It was a few years before I went up in a tall building again.
Got to the Eiffel Tower early. The wait wasn’t bad, but as I was coming back down, the second level was completely packed with people waiting for the elevator to the top.
Rhythmdvl, if you’re ever in Ulm, go here. (You can’t miss it.) Almost as tall as the Washington Monument, even better stonework, and you get to take the stairs both ways.
