While flipping through the endless amount of awful options that were presented to me one night by my great cable company, I came across a special on the Discovery Channel about the all new Grand Canyon Skywalk. If you have not heard of this extreme innovation that has become a new popular tourist attraction in the Arizona desert, then let me be the first to enlighten you.
In an attempt to bring in some much needed cash to a local Indian tribe, a new way to check out a familiar American landmark was needed. Years of planning and hundreds of man hours later, the new Skywalk was introduced to the public on March 28, 2007. It is simply a “U” shaped walkway that is located 4,000 feet above the Colorado River…oh yeah and it has a glass floor. Since its debut 2 1/2 years ago, nearly 1 million visitors have made the brave walk over the Grand Canyon.
So why are tourists enamored with glass floors when they travel? That is probably something no one has ever asked you before, but when you think about it, people really dig see-through sites when they are on vacation. In addition to the Grand Canyon’s latest stunt, here are a few more glass floor loving locales to check out on your next trip.
Willis Tower Skydeck Ledge in Chicago
Skydeck Ledge at Willis (Sears) Tower (Chicago, Illinois): So how far up will you be? Eh just a measly 1,353 feet! The five sided enclosure, which is located on the 103rd floor of Sears Tower and overlooking the Chicago river, has been a hit with people visiting Chicago’s famed skyscraper.
Sydney Tower Skywalk
Sydney Tower Skywalk (Sydney, Australia): At about 850 feet (or 260 meters) you will be able to check out the lovely city of Sydney, Australia from a completely new angle. The open-air, glass floor platform circles the famed Sydney Tower and provides gutsy guests with exhilarating views of this Australian city.
CN Tower (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
CN Tower (Toronto, Ontario, Canada): The world’s tallest structure provides visitors who make it up to the observation deck with a glass floor to snap some memorable pictures or to just goof around. Don’t worry scaredy cats, as it is just a small section of the observation deck. So you can simply stand on the sidelines and watch as people make fools of themselves snapping that oh so original picture of themselves laying down on the glass floor. In addition to this see-through attraction, CN Tower has also added a glass floor elevator to enjoy as you make your way up to the top floor.
Calgary Tower (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Calgary Tower (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): Just 2,100 miles from Toronto in the city of Calgary is the Calgary Tower. The 41-year old tower offers a panoramic view 627 feet above downtown Calgary. While not as popular as the aforementioned CN Tower, this structure was the founding member of the World Federation of Great Towers.
