This is a very famous and peculiar street in the entire country. Designed especially to counter and reduce the effect of a steep slope it was made in the early 20s. There are 8 hair pins devised on this street that enable cars to be able to come up or down the slope. There is a section of the road which is only reserved for one way traffic.

People driving in this street have to obey the 5 mile per hour barrier enforced in order to eliminate any road accidents or mishaps. This famous street has been featured in movies and mainstream media quite a few instances. Hitchcock used this street in his movie Vertigo and quite a few others.

The San Francisco Shuttle Tours have recently included a walking tour and making Lombard Street one of their stops. They take you to the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace Hill and the Japanese Tea Garden. They also have another walking tour through the San Francisco China Town. The tour lasts approximately 4 to 5 hours and can be booked online. Tour rates are $65, $60 and $50 for adults, seniors above 65 and Children 12 and below. Departure times are 9 am and 11.45 am depending upon which one you would like to choose.

Due to its uniqueness it also is a good subject to photograph while you are in San Francisco for your friends back home. Usually the best time to visit Lombard city is during the summers. The Lombard street is lined with flowers and mini gardens maintained by the city as well as its residents. And all their work bears good fruit in the summers when all the plants flower giving the street a very colorful and lively look.

What's your impression about San Francisco? From all the romantic images portrayed in movies and television shows, it's not hard for us to get obsessed with such an enchanting city blessed with Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill, the Embarcadero, Lombard Street, Chinatown and more. Lombard Street has earned an endearing reputation for its steeps and twists, and frequently billed as the "Crookedest Street" of San Francisco.

Before hitting the winding street, you might want to know the history of Lombard Street. Lombard Street was laid out in 1922, originally as part of Hwy 101. In early years, it was indeed a hard job for most automobiles to deal with such a steep grade. To reduce the hill's natural 27% grade, the switchback was installed. And to avoid traffic accidents, driving speed was limited to 5 mph on this street. Thus Lombard Street was considered as the crookedest street in the world. Since then, tourists from all corners of the world have been flocking to Lombard Street. Overwhelming tourists led to serious traffic jam on this one-way street. In 1999, the Crooked Street Task Force was formed to ease the problem. As a result, a summer parking ban on the street was issued that year.

To know more about Lombard Street and its interesting history, please visit:

Lombard Street History

http://www.helium.com/items/1217656-lombard-street-san-francisco

About Lombard Street

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Street_%28San_Francisco%29

Why do tourists and photographers flock to this crooked street?

Lombard Street is most famous for a small one-way section between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, near the top of Russian Hill. This steep switchback boasts eight sharp turns. It's really interesting to watch cars maneuvering down the twists and turns. Brave enough to test your brakes? You can drive down the street by yourself. Bear in mind that the speed limit there is just 5 mph. Or you can hop on the Powell-Hyde line to get to the top.

Lombard Street serves tourists more than challenging driving but beautiful landscaping as well. You can appreciate the red-bricked stones, colorful flowers on chocolate-dark flowerbeds and perfectly-trimmed shrubs alongside the windy curves. All of these look so photogenic in front of cameras. Thus many photographers from around of the world adore this famous serpentine in the heart of San Francisco.

Yet the best place for photographing is the top of Russian Hill. It offers an incredible sight of daring cars maneuvering down, careful pedestrians walking along the sides and dazzling flowers in bright color. If look farther, you will gain magnificent panoramic views of Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Alcatraz as well as the rest of the bay.

Take a glimpse of Lombard Street by browsing through the photos below:

Lombard Street Photos

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/California/San_Francisco-755471/Things_To_Do-San_Francisco-Lombard_Street-BR-1.html

To enhance your tour to Lombard Street, we'd like to share with you some quick facts about the street:

- Lombard Street is a one-way street. So you should approach it from Hyde Street if driving. Don't drive up from Leavenworth!

- The best time to visit Lombard Street is spring since flowers are all in full blossom and the street is alive with color. Lombard Street in morning looks most photogenic.

- Lombard Street houses some most expensive and classiest properties of San Francisco such as stately mansions, townhouses, endless array of condos and many other real estates.

- Lombard Street is stretching in the east-west direction. You'll make it to Coit Tower by heading west and Golden Gate Bridge by heading east. Both directions are perfect for a pleasant hiking experience.

Deemed as the Crookedest Street in the world, the Lombard Street in San Francisco is really an oddity which is now one of the most popular tourist attractions of San Francisco. This east-west street continues in both directions, going all the way up the Telegraph Hill and then down through the marina. At the west end of the steep street, it is connected with Golden Gate Bridge.

It is truly a fantastic view when you see dozens of cars heading down the street, surrounded by beautiful houses and numerous blooming flowers. Not only the Lombard Street itself is incredibly appealing, but also the spectacular views of the Bay Area of San Francisco. When standing at the top of street, you will enjoy a dramatic vista of the Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz and so on.

The Lombard Street is paved with bricks and full of sharp curves to make sure that automobiles can traverse the steep slope safely. Owing to its unique features and fabulous views, the Lombard Street is visited by an endless array of people every day. Actually, the Lombard Street is more than just a tourist attraction. It also performs as a principal arterial road in this region and has been co-signed as U.S. Route 101.

More Information about the Lombard Street

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lombard_Street_%28San_Francisco%29

The amazing surrounding of the Lombard Street is kind of impressive as well. In the neighborhood, you can find numerous stately mansions, condos, townhouses and even some of the most exquisite and expensive real estate of the city. Besides, a wide selection of restaurants is also situated within walking distance of the street. For any visitors coming to the Lombard Street, it is undoubtedly a piece of cake to find a satisfying restaurant and enjoy a pleasant dining experience.

Well, if you still have no idea about where to eat during your trip to the Lombard Street, take a look at the following restaurants. Some of them are truly wonderful options. And no matter what your taste, you are sure to find a number of great restaurants located along the Lombard Street and offering your favorite dishes.

1) Leopold's

This fabulous restaurant is seated at 2400 Polk Street, only 0.26 miles away from the Lombard Street. Both lunch and dinner would be available at the Leopold's. Besides, its late-night dining would be served until midnight. The main features of this restaurant are its terrific Austrian and German cuisines.

With a festival atmosphere, the Leopold's is also a wonderful venue for various events, from urban to rustic gathering. Various beer and wine from the region are provided as well. Whenever you come to this restaurant, you and your family members or friends are bound to enjoy a great time. For more details about this restaurant, you can visit its official website or call (415)474-2000.

More Related Information about the Leopold's

http://www.facebook.com/Leopoldssf

2) Antica Trattoria

Also situated at 2400 Polk Street, the Antica Trattoria is a great choice for most visitors. It specializes in Italian cuisines and would only furnish visitors with tasty dinner. Over the years, the restaurant has strived very hard to provide award-winning dishes that could excite and stimulate the palate.

The Antica Trattoria would be closed on Mondays, but operate from Tuesday through Sunday. Beer and wine are available as well. To learn more about what the Antica Trattoria has to offer you, call (415)928-5797 or click the link given below.

Detailed Information about the Antica Trattoria

http://www.anticasf.com

3) Le Folie

This restaurant can be found at 2316 Polk Street. It specializes in French cuisines and is regarded as one of the best French restaurants in San Francisco. The chef of the Le Folie, Roland Passot, is a genius good at blending the freshest ingredients from exotic combinations.

Since its interception, this restaurant has served both locals and tourists for over 21 years. And it earns itself a great reputation owing to impeccable service and dramatic dishes. Normally, the Le Folie would be available from Monday to Saturday. It only opens on Sundays during December. To make a reservation prior to your visit, you can call (415)776-5577 or visit the official website of the restaurant.

Home Page of the Le Folie

http://www.lafolie.com

4) Matterhorn Swiss Restaurant

This restaurant is placed at 2323 Van Ness Avenue, about 0.31 miles away from the Lombard Street. At the Matterhorn Swiss Restaurant, you will be able to enjoy a wide range of authentic continental cuisines.

Featuring a cozy and enjoyable ambiance, this restaurant definitely makes visitors feel like dining at a Swiss alpine chalet. Various delicious Swiss dishes are available at the Matterhorn Swiss Restaurant as well. Call (415)885-6116 to make an appointment with the restaurant before your visit.

5) Pesce

Sitting at 2227 Polk Street, the Pesce is an omnipotent restaurant offering dramatic dishes. Specializing in Italian cuisine, this wonderful restaurant also provides oysters, tapas and a good deal of seafood.

Dishes offered by the Pesce are great combinations of flavors from Venice and tradition of the region. All kinds of small plates of hot or cold dishes you can enjoy at this restaurant are also truly impressive. Besides, whenever you are in the mood of having a cup of classic cocktails or hand-selected wine from Italy or the United States, the Pesce would never let you down.

If you need more information regarding the Pesce, try to check its official website. For any questions, the Pesce can be reached at (415) 928-8025.

Learn More from Official Website

http://www.pescebarsf.com

6) Perry's

The Perry's can be found at 1944 Union Street, nearly 0.36 miles away from the Lombard Street. It offers a wide variety of American Traditional dishes. Both lunch and dinner are served every day. If you happen to come to the Perry's on Friday or Saturday, then late-night dinner would be available. For those who would like to have brunch at the Perry's, Saturday brunch would be served from 9 am to 3 pm, while Sunday brunch is available between 8 am and 3 pm.

It's said that the Perry's offers the best hamburgers in town. Plus, the menu of the Perry's also includes various sandwiches, incredible salads and many other delicious options. When you are on a trip to the Lombard Street, do not miss your chance to grab a bite at this fabulous restaurant.

The Perry's can be reached at (415) 922-9022. And you can find more details about this restaurant on its official website. The link is given below.

Website of the Perry's

http://www.perryssf.com

In addition to what mentioned above, there are still a number of great dining options for visitors to pick from. If you are interested in other restaurants, the following page could help a lot. The website of "Where The Locals Eat" offers complete information about restaurants and eateries located in the vicinity of Lombard Street.

Search Restaurants Next to the Lombard Street

http://www.wherethelocalseat.com/

After spending some time at the Fisher's Wharf, catch the cable car back up to Lombard Street, known as one of the crookedest streets in the United States. As an east-west street in San Francisco, Lombard Street is notable for a steep, one-block section that is made up of tight hairpin turns.

The steep hilly street was built with sharp curves to switchback down the one-way hill passing fabulous Victorian mansions. With 8 sharp turnings, Lombard Street has become the most striking street in the Golden Gate City. Some of the superior and most expensive real estate of the city can be found on this street.

Location: Beginning at Presidio Boulevard inside the Presidio, Lombard Street traverses east through the Cow Hollow neighborhood. Spanning 12 blocks between Broderick Street on the east and Van Ness Avenue on the west, it is a chief arterial road that is co-signed as U.S. Route 101. The street continues in both directions, wandering all the way east, up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower and spreading west down through the Marina, where it becomes a main artery channeling traffic to the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you want to gain a clear understanding of its location, the following maps will help you gain a visual understanding of Lombard Street and its surrounding area.

Map of Lombard Street

http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/map/11345434/san_francisco_ca/lombard_street.html

Maps of Hotels near Lombard Street

http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocalMaps-g60713-d106232-Lombard_Street-Area.html

While you are on the Lombard Street, the most interesting thing to do there is watching people drive down the crooked, one-block section. If you would like to drive down it yourself, drive to the Lombard Street. Driving to the street not only gives you access to experience the fun, but also gives you more freedom and convenience.

However, before starting your engine, equip yourself with the driving directions. The following directions to Lombard Street are offered for the benefit of driving visitors.

1) From the North

If you are driving from the north, take US-101 South towards San Francisco. Drive on until US-101 South turns into Richardson Avenue. Then continue on Lombard Street.

2) From the South

Driving visitors from the south are suggested to take US-101 North towards San Francisco. Take the Mission Street exit and make a left on Van Ness Avenue.

3) From the East

For visitors departing from the east, it is necessary to take I-580 West towards San Francisco. When on I-580 west, get off at Harrison Street towards Embarcadero. Make a left on Harrison Street and then turn right on Third Street. Follow the Third Street until it becomes Kearny Street. Then make a left on Geary Street. While on Geary Street, bear right on Van Ness Avenue.

4) From San Francisco International Airport

If you are coming from San Francisco International Airport, start out going northwest and keep right at the fork. Take the ramp to US-101 North. Remain right at the fork and follow signs for US-101 North / San Francisco to merge onto US-101 North. Take exit 434A to merge onto Mission Street towards Golden Gate Bridge. Bear left onto Van Ness Avenue.

You can get exact directions from your location to Lombard Street on this page:

Get Directions to Lombard Street

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=lombard+street,+san+francisco,+ca,+united+states&xhr=t&q=lombard+street+san+francisco&cp

After driving on Van Ness Avenue, you can't turn left on Lombard Street. You need to drive up one block and make a right turn around the block so that you can go straight across Van Ness and drive on Lombard Street.

Once you reach the crooked section, get ready for a slow down. The speed limit in this section is 5 miles per hour. Reserved for one-way traffic traveling east, the crooked section of the street is approximately 0.25 miles long, between Hyde and Leavenworth, just a few blocks above Ghirardelli Square.

For visitors who take the Powell-Hyde cable car to Lombard Street, the cable car makes stops at the top of the street. To get to the crooked section, you can walk up Hyde from Ghirardelli Square, up Leavenworth (one block east) or walk west from North Beach on Lombard Street.

Visiting Tips: To gain the full Lombard Street experience, start your journey on Van Ness and travel up Lombard Street.

The best place to take photos at the street is from Leavenworth Street at the bottom. You will see cars headed down slowly, daring souls walking up and down the sides, while flowers and buildings offer glamorous color. Morning is usually the best time for photographs.

Famed for its twists and turns, Lombard Street is a steep crooked east-west street in the city of San Francisco, California. The street stretches from Presidio Boulevard in the west through the Cow Hollow neighborhood in the east. It can be a really challenging job to shuttle back and forth on Lombard Street due to all the twists and steeps. Yet the difficulty of driving intrigues people to challenger themselves.

Get a sneak peek into Lombard Street from Flickr:

Lombard Street Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikegk/3944750653/

Does winding through the Lombard Street and braving the frequent traffic jams sound fascinating to you? If yes, hit the road now. Just make sure that you're approaching the street from Hyde Street since Lombard Street is a one-way street. You should be aware of the fact that driving can be really frustrating sometimes. In this case, we'd suggest you to park your car somewhere and ride the Powel-Hyde cable car to reach the top. From the top, you'll get a panoramic view of Lombard Street as well as Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz. To make your trip hassle free, we'd like to share with you some convenient parking facilities at Lombard Street.

Lombard Street Garage

Lombard Street Garage functions as the major parking facility on Lombard Street. It is conveniently located at 2055 Lombard St, just between Webster St and United States Highway 101. This garage features reasonable rates, ample spaces, advantaged locations as well as friendly staff. It is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 3:00 am on Friday and Sundays. Parking rate is $2.5 per hour. Daily maximum rate is $22 and overnight rate is $10. If you enter before 7:30 am and exit after 7:00 pm, you can enjoy the early bird specials at the rate of $15. To know more about Lombard Street Garage, please call (415) 440-1984.

Not sure about directions to Lombard Street Garage? Breeze your drive by referring to the following map:

Lombard Street Garage

http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/garage/2055_lombard_st/94123/san_francisco/

Well Fargo 2055 Chestnut

Well Fargo garage is located at 2055 Chestnut St, a block north of Lombard Street. It's operated by Pacific Park Management. Pacific Park Management is dedicated to delivering a "WOW" experience to all its customs by providing high-stand services, competitive rates, safe environment and etc. Let's take a look at Well Fargo 2055 Chestnut parking rates:

Daytime Parking Rates: $2 per 15 minutes

Daily Maximum Rates: $20

Evening Parking Rates: $12

Sunday Parking Rates: $12

Monthly Parking Rates: $232.50/month

Not sure about directions to Well Fargo 2055 Chestnut parking? Breeze your drive by referring to the following map:

Well Fargo 2055 Chestnut

http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/garage/wells_fargo_2055_chestnut/94123/san_francisco/

Pierce Street Parking Lot

Pierce Street Parking Lot is conveniently situated at 3252 Pierce St, between Lombard St & United States Highway 101. This garage can accommodate up to 116 cars. Pierce Street Parking Lot is operating around the clock Monday through Friday. To find directions down to Pierce Street Parking Lot, please refer to:

Pierce Street Parking Lot

http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/lot/3252_pierce_street/san_francisco/

It can be a tough job to navigate parking in San Francisco, one of the most populous city in the county. To locate a parking facility by street address, you can refer to the SF Parking Directory below:

SF Parking Directory by Street Address

http://www.parkingquest.com/~kenq/cgi-bin/dir.cgi?order=addr

If you Google online for information on Lombard Street, the first thing you will probably notice is that the street is referred to as the "crookedest street" in San Francisco. The street runs in an east-west direction and has several very dangerous hair pin turns that might seem a little difficult for drivers. Make sure to book your San Francisco hotels so that you can be in close proximity to this interesting San Francisco Street.

http://www.sftravel.com/lomabardcrookedstreet.html

History of Lombard Street

The Lombard Street of San Francisco was actually part of the Highway 101 till it began to be recognized as a popular zig zag street of San Francisco. The Crooked Street Task Force was brought to action in 1999 when the popularity of the Street was soaring and tourists all over the world made it a point to come down here and get a peek into this interesting looking crooked street. Today tourism is still encouraged but fines are charged for parking in order to keep control of the heavy traffic frenzy that often arises due to tourist visits. Read this well written and organized report to know more about the Lombard Street California in details. You will soon want to go there!

http://www.helium.com/items/1217656-lombard-street-san-francisco

Crooked but Popular Street

Let's just get our facts right here. The Lombard Street is not only the most crooked but also the steepest road in San Francisco. But these two factors probably don't beat the fact that this street is also exceptionally popular, so much so that a special force had to be created to manage them. So when you land in San Francisco make it a point to visit this street.

http://www.aviewoncities.com/sf/lombardstreet.htm

For those looking for high grade as well as budget priced properties, Lomabrd Street in San Francisco is an ideal choice. Lombard (the most crooked street in U.S.A) is a comparatively busy street located in the northern part of San Francisco, close to the Golden Gate Bridge.

This area shares proximity to the neighborhoods of Marina and Pacific Heights. There are several cafes, shopping centers, restaurants, bars and night clubs in the vicinity of Lombard Street.

You may consult your local travel agent or look into the websites for getting San Francisco hotel deals in Lombard Street.

http://www.lombardstreethotels.com/

There are great rates offered on more than 50 hotels located in the vicinity of Lombard Street. Some of the hotels listed in this site include:

- Holiday Inn San Francisco-Fishermans Warf

- Francisco Bay Inn

- Days Inn San Francisco - Lombard

- Lombard Motor Inn

- Ramada Limited San Francisco

- Travelodge At The Presidio San Francisco

Majority of these hotels provide complimentary parking, high speed internet accessibility and such other amenities.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/hotels_motels/poi/63981.html#visited=true&trafficLogID=563670545&clickingLogId=46420234

The major hotels where good deals are offered through booking on this site are:

- The St. Regis San Francisco

- Best Western Tuscan Inn At Fisherman's Wharf

- Grosvenor Suites

http://www.sftravel.com/bgt.html

http://travel.nextag.com/san-francisco-lombard-street-hotel/hotels-html