February 2016 – ON TOP OF THE WORLD There is it is again – the phrase I love the most, “the first of its kind in the world”, and yes – we just had to take an adventure to Chicago to check it out!
I sometimes forget how close Chicago is via an express train ride and easy $2 parking at the Route 59 Metra station in Aurora. With kids under 11 riding free and students with IDs at half price, the Metra is an affordable, peaceful solution while traveling with three moms and eleven teenage girls!
Our Chicago adventure began with a prized CBS Tour with Naperville resident and CBS Investigative Reporter, Dave Savini, won via a local pediatric brain cancer fundraiser for The Max Lacewell Foundation. After the girls played news reporter and weather forecaster, then participated as the live audience for the 11a.m.
CBS News, we ventured out via the lesser known underground Chicago Pedway system to the world famous Billy Goat Tavern on lower Michigan Avenue. You know the place – “Cheezborger, cheezborger, cheezborger, no fries…Cheeps....no Pepsi….Coke”, made famous by Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Bill Murray on Saturday Night Live in 1978.
We made our way down the Magnificent Mile for some sweet treats, stopping at Dylan’s Candy Bar - a part of the world’s largest confectionary emporium and lifestyle brand of Dylan Lauren; then turned off on Ohio for a quick stop at Eataly Chicago to enjoy unique flavors at the Nutella Counter.
Afterwards, we headed to the John Hancock Building for the adrenaline heart stopping thrill of the day at the first of its kind in the world - the TILT ride - allowing guests to lean outside of the 94th Floor at a 30% angle, providing unbelievable views of Chicago. With a few shrills, screams, and giggles, our group experienced an adventure like no other on the TILT. Where else can you have unique, downward facing views of the city from 1,000 feet up?!
Overview Guests can TILT outward 1,000 feet above The Magnificent Mile at 360 Chicago (formerly John Hancock Observatory). TILT is the first of its kind in the world.
360 Chicago (formerly John Hancock Observatory) 875 N. Michigan Avenue, 94th Floor Chicago, IL 60611 (888) 875 8439
Hours: Open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Price $: General Admission $19/Adults, $13/Youth under 12. Tilt $7/person.
about the writer Naperville mom Kristen Kucharski graduated from Illinois State University in 1992 with an International Business Degree. She is married and has two energetic daughters and her house is always full of children. Kristen’s column titled, Mom's Little Black Book, is a monthly feature written for moms who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy.
