Sears Tower Skydeck
 

Has anyone seen this while on vacation in Chicago? What is the best time to go to beat the crowds during the summer months? Was it scary standing on this skydeck? We are going to Chicago next week. I know its now called I think the Willis tower. Just asking thanks.

Is there a reason this is tagged Pennsylvania?

Don't expect anyone in Chicago to call it anything other than the Sears Tower for years to come! ;)

I wasnt sure if this (tagged) meant the place you are from or asking about. Yeah they will still call it the Sears Tower because it has been known as that for a very long time. I can get that.

I can't answer your questions about the Sears Tower Observation Deck. But I can tell you that most people prefer the view from the John Hancock Bldg. If you decide to go there instead (or too), you might want to consider going to the Signature Room Lounge instead of the observation deck. For about the same price as the observation deck, you can sit and have a drink. The best view is actually from the ladies room!

Enjoy your visit in Chicago!

We went up there last June. I bought tickets on the internet before we left the UK. The tickets are good for several days, if I remember correctly. We turned up one afternoon at about 3:00pm - no lines at all. All we had to wait for was the next presentation of the little film they show you. We watched the film with about 5 other people.

I am scared of heights, but had no problems on the skydeck as it is enclosed (unlike, for instance, the Top of the Rock in NY). There were stunning views from there.

Haven't they opened a glass floored walkway that juts away from the building now?

Went here recently, and thought the view was fine. It's best for views south and west, which are somewhat obstructed at the Hancock Tower, less good for north and east.

Guidebooks suggest that the best time to go here is around dinner time, say ca. 6 PM. I went about that time and had a minimal wait.

If you get Chicago CityPass, one of the tickets allows you to choose either the Sears or Hancock Towers to get in for free and bypass the admission line.

They have opened a glass floored walkway at Willis Tower (sorry, no longer the Sears Tower). The price of admission to the Skydeck includes going out on the "The Ledge".
Here is the website where you can purchase tickets on-line.

http://www.theskydeck.com/theledge.asp

oh good grief! That's terrifying!

I hope I didn't scare away the OP with my snarky sounding comment. I didn't mean it that way, honest I didn't! :-] I'ts just that, living in the Chicago suburbs, it took me by surprise to see a question about Chicago tagged Pennsylvania. Thought maybe I was missing something!