Category Archive for ‘Travel - USA’

You can read about how huge it is. You can see photos of it on the internet. You can photograph it from street level, but until you actually step out of the elevator on the 103rd floor, you have no real appreciation of the architectural feat that is the Sears Tower. This building was the tallest building in the world for the first 25 years of its existence, and even today it remains the tallest building in North America.

I’m not sure you can be fully prepared to witness the view that awaits you at the 103rd floor. I wasn’t, and as you will see in the photos, I was very lucky: it was a very clear day. After waiting in line and watching a short film about the tower in their small theater, I finally stepped into what should only be described as a super-elevator. Any elevator that goes up to the 103rd floor in just a couple minutes deserves some respect — or at least a cool name. And only when I stepped out onto the Sears Tower Skydeck to see the view from 412 meters up (1353 feet) could I fully appreciate the Sears Tower for what it is: a view like no other.

To extract the most awesomeness out of your Sears Tower experience, there are 7 things you should know before you go:

Take untold numbers of photos!
And while you’re at it, join the 21st century and use a digital instead of a film camera so you can see how your photos are turning out. Take more photos than you would expect to need, because there are millions of opportunities up there on the 103rd floor. When you get home, some photos you thought turned out great might not be so great after all, and you’ll be glad you have so many photos to choose from.

Contrary to what some say, NEVER use your camera’s black and white setting. If you want black and white photos, you’re much better off using a piece of software like Photoshop to convert to black and white later. Here’s why: when you take a color photo, you essentially get 3 black and white digital photos in one shot — basically 3 value channels that are colored as red, green, and blue. In a program like Photoshop, you can mix the red, green, and blue in the proportions you want and decide whether you want to emphasize red contrast, green contrast, or blue contrast. You get to decide the character of the final black and white photo.
Explore the exhibits.
At all four sides of the tower are small exhibits that make it easy (well, sort of) to spot some Chicago’s historical and architectural landmarks from that vantage point. There are even some touch-screen computers that offer all of the information in six, count ‘em 6, different languages so visitors of many nationalities can enjoy the exhibits, too. But don’t let that be an excuse not to teach your foreign friend more English. In the end, they’ll be glad you did.
Keep your eye on the sky.
Depending on the weather, your visibility can be anywhere from zero to over 40 miles. Your experience will hinge on how far you can see. Obviously if the air is more clear, your view will be more breathtaking. The sexy thing about this perspective (which is likely the highest you’ll ever be while in a legal state of mind) is that when the sky is clear, you can see four different states: Illinois (duh), Michigan, Indiana, and ~~Cheeseconsin~~… Wisconsin. While the Skydeck does have some binocular-like tools available to the public, you may want to bring your own binoculars if you’re a germaphobe. I’m not sayin… I’m just sayin’.
Be smart with crowds.
The Sears Tower has plenty of traffic year round, but there will be significantly more people on weekends. So if you’re very antisocial, or you just want to minimize your waiting time, go on a weekday after 5 P.M. to avoid the crowds as much as possible.
Notice the subtleties, the things other people miss.
Keep in mind this may be the only time you visit the lovely Sears Tower, so take this moment to appreciate it. Try to spot a touring ferry in the Chicago River. Feel the way that the building sways if it happens to be windy that day. Look out and try to see where Illinois ends and Indiana or Wisconsin begins.
LOOK DOWN!
Like in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! From the skydeck, you’re 412 meters (1,353 feet) in the air. Most people are ~~wimps~~ a little afraid to look down, but looking down is the only way to full appreciate how high you are.

Some people brag about leaning over the railing to look down, but I say that’s nothing. If you really want added thrill (not to mention bragging rights), lean your head on the surface the glass like Cameron does in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. See how tiny everything looks. Tell them the Byteful Traveller gave you permission. Actually don’t. You never read this. It was YOUR idea, I swear!
Appreciate the marvelousness of what you’re seeing.
The Sears Tower is an engineering marvel that would have been impossible to build a hundred years ago. The Sears Tower provides a view greater beyond any bird’s of the marvelous web of interaction and exchange known as Chicago. Take the time to really enjoy your view from the highest observation point in Chicago, one of the great world cities.

All kinds of info about hours, directions, parking, and many other details are available on the official (though somewhat basic) Sears Tower Skydeck site.

Correct Me if I’m Wrong but are You asking for a Challenge?!

Whatever you do, promise me you’ll push yourself to be a little more adventurous on your next trip than your last, okay? Pushing your own (self-imposed) limits results in a more enjoyable trip, and you’ll be glad you did. Believe it or not, Travelling, when done right, spurs big time growth.

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Photos from this trip are in the Sears Tower - Chicago album. All photos in the Byteful Gallery can be used as desktop wallpapers because they are high resolution (1920×1440) just as the fullscreen & widescreen wallpapers are.

This is my kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of town. Chicago is
My kind of people too,
People who smile at you

~ Frank Sinatra

That’s what Frank Sinatra had to say about Chicago, but don’t let the song deceive you. There isn’t actually a higher incidence of smiles here. That being said, Chicago is a town of many delights, but first, some history:

Over 100 years before I was born, Chicago was founded near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed. In 1837, Chicago incorporated as a city and soon became a major transportation hub in North America as well as the transportation, financial, and industrial center of the Midwest United States. Today, the city attracts 44.2 million visitors annually.

Welcome to Chicago’s Front Lawn

About 171 years after the city incorporated, I set foot into Chicago for the first time. Quite appropriately, the first place I visited was Grant Park, and in retrospect I can’t think of a better place to begin since it’s frequently referred to as the city’s front yard. What better place to start than the front yard?

As I walked into Grant Park, I saw a huge fountain in the distance, and I could also hear the sound of jets flying overhead. Near the fountain, someone was selling T-shirts to raise money for a fountain restoration project. He told me that this was Buckingham Fountain, one of the most popular landmarks of the city. Although the fountain was showing some wear, it was still magnificent. Little did I know that in a few hours hence, I would be seeing it from the tallest office building in North America.

Later, I found out that Buckingham Fountain, first opened in 1927, is actually one of the largest fountains in the world and is composed of Georgia pink marble. And I’m glad I arrived when I did, because just a few weeks after my visit, Buckingham Fountain closed for renovation and restoration of its deteriorated infrastructure. It’s nice to see that Chicago takes good care of its city monuments.

Unexpected Hornets

After snapping a few carefully composed photos of the fountain, I crossed the street to find the legendary Cloud Gate sculpture, otherwise known as The Bean of Chicago. I allowed myself to wander and, with a little help from some kind Chicagoans, soon found Millennium Park — all the while hearing the sound of jets in the distance. As I was exploring the park, I stopped at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park’s outdoor performing arts venue. Although no one was performing at the time, people seemed to be enjoying themselves on the pavilion’s vast green lawn.

Suddenly, I finally saw the source of the sound that I’d been hearing all this time as the US Navy’s Blue Angels soared high in the sky overhead. Someone had told me that the annual Chicago Air and Water show was today, so I felt like I arrived in Chicago just in time. My 10X optical zoom came in handy when all four FA-18 Hornets took a steep nosedive while maintaining a diamond formation. I was lucky; the weather was clear and the visibility was excellent. The Blue Angels even left a vertical loop of contrail in the sky before disappearing behind some clouds.

Seeing the Cloud Gate (aka The Bean)

Once the Blue Angels disappeared, I continued looking around for the famed Bean sculpture. Although it’s 33 feet tall and weighs 110 short tons (nearly 100,000 Kg!), it’s actually surprisingly easy to miss, and I’ve talked to people who have visited Chicago before and never even heard of The Bean, which is a shame. Once again I relied on the kindness of Chicagoans and was soon pointed in the right direction.

And lo, the Great Cloud Gate of Chicago was soon before me — a huge, polished steel sculpture, warping and bending light all around it. The sun was glaring off its perfectly polished surface, and the light of the clear sky was perfect for photography.

The Cloud Gate, more commonly referred to as “The Bean”, is the most visited structure in Chicago, and for good reason: it’s huge, it’s interactive, and it’s beautiful. The Bean is almost like a toy, but instead of you playing with it, it plays with light. Perhaps Kapoor, the creator of Cloud Gate, said it best:

“What I wanted to do in Millennium Park is make something that would engage the Chicago skyline… so that one will see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work. And then, since it is in the form of a gate, the participant, the viewer, will be able to enter into this very deep chamber that does, in a way, the same thing to one’s reflection as the exterior of the piece is doing to the reflection of the city around.”

~ Anish Kapoor

If you’re going to visit Chicago, please don’t miss opportunity to play with The Bean. Just imagine how fascinated your friends will be when you bring back pictures of this incredible sculpture.

You can say, “I’ve been to The Bean! Have you?”

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Photos from this trip are in the Grant Park - Chicago album. All photos in the Byteful Gallery can be used as desktop wallpapers because they are high resolution (1920×1440) just as the fullscreen & widescreen wallpapers are.