Lombard Street is another postcard perfect San Francisco
attraction. Because of that it's also very popular and no matter the day of
the year you'll find numerous people taking pictures here. The attraction
is advertised as the "crookedest street in the world" with eight curves in
one block descent from Hyde to Leavenworth. The street wasn't always
crooked (evidently) but its natural grade of 27 degrees made it harder for
the earlier automobiles to climb it. Around 1920, the switchbacks were
added and in the process the curve incline was reduced to 16. Cars can only
go downhill while on the two sides there are stairways for pedestrians.
The views from the top of the section are beautiful (towards the Coit Tower
and the Alcatraz). It's nicer to visit in the summer when the flowers are
in bloom. Address: Lombard Street. Descent begins at Hyde Street.
