The skydeck observatory located at the very top of the John Hancock Building offers visitors a breathtaking view of Chicago’s skyline. It also provides a sweeping view of four different states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Located at 875 North Michigan Avenue, the John Hancock Center is the fourth tallest building in Chicago, measuring 1,127 feet in the air. It was constructed by the Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill architectural firm under Chief Designer Bruce Graham and Bangladeshi American structural engineer, Fazlur Khan.

The building contains offices, restaurants, and about 700 condominiums, and it received its name to represent the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. The John Hancock Observatory offers a competitive view to the Willis Tower Skydeck, though the former has Chicago’s only open-air Skywalk with a free multimedia tour given in six languages.

Start your day 94 stories high with the best view of Chicago, and plan your next adventure on the ground, whether it’s dinner and theater or a family walking tour. You can participate in an audio tour and view the city through five telescopes, allowing you to experience Chicago like never before. Plus, the John Hancock Observatory offers the world’s highest cafe — Lavazza Expression Cafe — where you can enjoy a variety of foods and a cocktail. Best of all, the Observatory is open to large groups and parties, and weddings, graduations, school trips, and even corporate private parties have made their mark in the Observatory.

The John Hancock Observatory also offers a free concierge service. In partnership with WHERE Magazine, the Observatory offers you the chance to plan your day in Chicago. Begin with an amazing view of the city and Lake Michigan. You can then use the Sky High Concierge to help plan the rest of your trip, whether you’re booking a hotel or a dinner reservation.

Best of all is the Observatory’s sky high skating rink 1,000 feet up — the highest in the world. Measuring 900 square feet and created with a synthetic substance called XTRAICE, kids and adults can enjoy ice-skating against a backdrop of the Chicago skyline every year from January 1 through April 8. The rink is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and each 25-minute skating session costs $5. Skates can be rented for just $1.

As you can see, there’s more than meets the eye at the John Hancock Observatory. Take the opportunity to spend a fun and intimate time with family and friends, while seeing Chicago in a whole new way.