Hancock Building in Chicago

One Sunday morning while staying in Chicago I decided to visit the Hancock building. I'm pretty confident who ever is reading this probably saw it on Facebook. It's pretty well known for it's ride, TILT. This is a window in which you stand and it tilts out. Growing up living within a couple of hours of Chicago we would visit and go to Sears Tower, now known as Willis Tower. At the top of the building one of my friends (Or boyfriend, I can't remember) showed me that if you lean with your face against the glass you can feel the building move. I always liked that feeling. So I thought the TILT would be similar.

I got there early, around 8:15- the place actually opens at 9am everyday-but there was already a line. It may have been because it was a weekend, but I was so glad I got there early.

After I bought my $21 ticket for the 360 degree view (which only is just going up the elevator and walking around- you must buy the TILT ticket up at the top) I walked through several rooms meant to hold lines and saw all the informational videos and posted signs. There was a photographer with a green screen and then the Elevator.  The elevator had a cheesy ad for travel in Chicago and took about 2 minutes. Once on the top floor I quickly bought my $7 TILT ticket and went over to the area. I figured I would be able to see the views afterward. I was told the ride didn't start until 10am. No one told me this in advance. I walked around a little, looked out at the gorgeous lake Michigan beach below, which was covered in snow, and realized this was a much better view than the Sears Tower. Also, unlike the more famous Sears Tower, there were lots of places to sit. They have benches installed and it's a great place to sit and look at the skyline.  I made my way back to stand in line for half an hour because people were beginning to show up. Very quickly there was a very long line behind me.

When the ride opened there were 8 spots, I was in the first group for the day. There is no pictures allowed to be taken in that area, a photographer shows up to take your picture again so they can try sell it to you in the end. They play some very loud music, this masks the sound of the hydraulics of the ride, and it's kind of like doing a push up. You have to hold yourself up with these bars. It lasts about two minutes. It wasn't really scary or exciting. It was just kind of like a tip outward, then back. The next day I felt like I had done a bunch of push ups, so it's a good work out.

This is the TILT ride

The Hancock Tower is only one of many exciting places to see in Chicago, but the view is unbeatable.