Click above to buy a Sky High annual adult membership to John Hancock Observatory for $39 ($79 value). Buy here for a Sky High annual membership for you and a youth (ages 3–11) to John Hancock Observatory for $29 ($59 value).

Each year, dozens of acrophobes overcome their fear of heights by building their own skyscraper by hand. Today's Groupon to John Hancock Observatory lets the height-averse breathe the heart-starting thin air of extreme altitudes without the hassle of scraping their own skies. For $39, adults get an annual membership with unlimited Fast Pass entries for you and a guest ($79 value), plus a 10% discount at the Espression by Lavazza café, at the observatory gift shops, and on Fun Photos. Get a similar deal for you and a youth for $29. Activate your membership in person at the ticket desk no later than March 31, 2010, to get unlimited access to the 100-story exemplar of structural expressionist style.

To prepare for life after your PhD, practice looking down on others from the open-air skywalk, where you'll feel the winds 1,030 feet above ground level while protected by a super-strong screen. From the observatory deck, a soundscope amplifies and zeroes in on sounds all over the city, so low-budget spies can get vague approximations of what's happening in Lincoln Park on any given day, or hear how the Sox game is going without turning on a radio. In addition to high-tech spy gear and meshed windwalks, you'll get access to tons of history and maps, as well as an audio guide narrated by former Friend and dinosaur lover David Schwimmer.

For those who are frequently out a'wooing, John Hancock Observatory's breathtaking nighttime views can turn a friendly evening out into a wind-swept romance—the observatory is open until 11 p.m. Before you impress your date with gorgeous views of four states (Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the other one), you'll get the high-roller treatment with an express elevator up to the 94th floor observation deck and an express ride back down, bypassing the tourist lines. You can tell your date you don't actually own the John Hancock Center after you're married.

Youth membership passes include one guest between the ages of 3 and 11. Photo ID will be required with each entry.

Reviews

Citysearchers give John Hancock Observatory five stars, while Yelpers and Insider Pagers give it four. TripAdvisors give it 4.5 owl eyes:

• The views are spectacular. Watching the sun go down and the city lights appear is incredible. – RobAndKathy, TripAdvisor
• It has great views of the lake/waterfront , skyscapers, and the city. don't miss this attraction. it's amazing. we also think it has the best gift shop(street level) we could find on michigan ave. a must see! don't miss it. – Corry2006, TripAdvisor