If there’s one thing to know about Northern California, it’s that we definitely know how to stand out. We’re home to some of the tallest trees in the world, some of the smallest mountains in the world, heck, we’re even home to the only beachfront Taco Bell in the world. Yep, NorCal is definitely a unique place. Did you know that it’s here you’ll find the “crookedest street in the world”? It may sound strange, but driving along this winding road is an iconic Northern California experience that everybody should try at some point.
If you've ever lived in or visited San Francisco, then you know that exploring the city can be quite the leg workout. Steep hills are an iconic feature of the city's geography, which means that there are plenty of twisty streets for traversing them!
However, there's one street that's famously the most twisty of them all: Lombard Street. This iconic east-west street contains a particularly twisted section that has given it the title of "the crookedest street in the world."
The one-block section can be found in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Believe it or not, it's become one of San Francisco's most popular attractions. The street receives around two million visitors per year and up to 17,000 visitors per day during the height of tourist season.
Consisting of eight super-sharp turns, the street's bizarre design was intended to reduce the hill's steep grade. At a 27% grade, the hill was simply too steep for most vehicles. The section takes up just one block and is paved with its now-iconic red bricks.
It may seem strange that cars actually line up just to drive down this particularly curvy hill, but there are some experiences that just perfectly encapsulate the spirit of San Francisco. Rumor has it that future visitors may be required to reserve a time and pay a fee in order to reduce congestion and traffic delays.
One thing's for sure, Lombard Street makes for a unique sight! It's no wonder it's become a favored spot among photographers, and it's even made appearances in popular movies like Magnum Force, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Pixar's Inside Out.
There are some experiences that you can only have in Northern California, and driving on the world's "crookedest street" is one of them! Have you taken the time to drive down this iconic street yet?
