Willis Tower

Soaring 443m (1454ft) into the air above the ‘Windy City’ of Chicago, Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower), opened in 1973 after a three-year building project. It was the world’s tallest building until it was overtaken by Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers in 1996 (which itself has since been overtaken). It consists of 110 floors of black aluminium and bronze-tinted glass. The lift takes visitors up to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor in just seven seconds for spectacular views that can stretch as far as 80km (50 miles) to the surrounding states of Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana on a clear day. Although the tower is a working office building – it is owned by real estate and property management company TrizecHahn – there are various visitor attractions and entertainment facilities on the Skydeck. Attractions include interactive multimedia displays showcasing Chicago’s history, music, literature and sport, with special knee-high versions for children, and several restaurants.
Air: Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Midway Airport (domestic flights). Rail: Train: Chicago Union Station. Underground: Quincy Station. Road: Entrance to the car park is on Jackson Boulevard in central Chicago.