Let’s do the Chicago 360

So Georgia and I visited Chicago as part of our big trip across the US in August / September 2024. Chicago was the fourth stop on our trip and we flew across from Nashville International Airport into O’Hare International.

We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile which was a good 30 minute walk to the Chicago 360.

We booked our tickets through Viator, using their reservation option whereby you book and the monies are taken from your account a couple of days before. Your tickets are then released onto the Viator App. This was a relatively cheap attraction to visit with tickets costing #79 for the two of us (so #39.50 each) for general entry. This enables you to take the elevator up to the 94th floor viewing platform.

Located 1030 feet above the Magnificent Mile, at the top of the John Hancock Observatory, the 360 observation deck is a great experience. If you look down from the observation deck you can see the whole of Chicago laid out for you together with what looks like a very nice beach - who knew there was a beach! Seems somewhat strange for someone from the UK to see a beach when what appears to be the sea is obviously Lake Michigan. That blew my mind somewhat as the lake is absolutely vast and on a beautiful day, with the sun shining you could easily lie on that beach and think you were somewhere else completely different !

Chicago beach !

We opted to pay the extra $10 each to experience ‘The Tilt’. You literally stand in a glass box, hang on to the bars and it tilts you forward so that you are looking directly down to the ground. You can stand up at any time and to be honest, it was fun but not particularly scary. We did purchase the photograph that they take of you though which was pretty reasonable at around $15.

The Sip, Tilt and View ticket is priced at $53 per adult and includes entry to the observation deck, a Tilt ride, a drink at the Cloud Bar and a free souvenir cup. Kids’ tickets are $38 each and its worth noting that there are non alcoholic ‘cocktails’ on offer if you, like me, are not a drinker. I ended up with a very sweet kiddies mocktail!!

The Chicago 360 is included in the Chicago City Pass - prices are around #200 for the ticket but includes the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago plus 3 more attractions of your choice; the 360, the Field Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium and a Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture River Tour. Great value if you are in town for a few days.

So, whatever you decide to do in Chicago, enjoy !

See you soon

Tracey and Georgia xx

** check out our trip to Chicago (and our other travel adventures) at georgialouisetravels on You Tube