Chicago from Above

We braved the holiday crowds to go up to the Hancock Tower Observatory, AKA "Big John." (Our trade-off for the relatively clear day was that they had hiked up the admission price by three dollars from one day to the next. We couldn't get a straight answer about whether this was a permanent increase or a holiday surcharge.)

The elevator was impressive: less than a minute to go up 94 floors. (The elevator audio reassured passengers about the company's excellent safety record.) Given that speed, though, it was surprising that they made you wait in line so long.

It was worth it, though: the views were great. And the observatory is large enough that it didn't feel crowded. It also included an interesting exhibit on the history of Chicago -- and there's a lot of history in Chicago! Music, fires, labor disputes, organized crime -- you want it, you've got it in Chicago.