Nob Hill/Russian Hill
Climbing above San Francisco’s downtown area are Nob Hill
and Russian Hill. Both neighborhoods are dense with steep
inclines and speckled with streets that abruptly end with a
towering staircase or a sheer drop-off where the road would
otherwise be expected to continue. One of the most expansive and
accessible views of San Francisco Bay is available from the apex
of Nob Hill, best seen along a nostalgic cable car ride on the
California line, which travels straight on California between
Van Ness Avenue and Market Street.
Along this transit route is
Grace Cathedral, a replica of Notre Dame in Paris, which is
remarkable for its Cloister Maze where one can discover a
personal, meditative solitude. And, of course, Russian Hill is
not without its own magnificent scenery in the unique Lombard
Street which undulates down Russian Hill’s eastern slope.
As is often the case, such scenic beauty creates prized real
estate which, is most sought after and snared by the few and the
wealthy. Nob and Russian Hills have become centers of plenty and
comfort, with extravagant homes, impressive hotels and upscale
restaurants. The neighborhoods remain mainly residential, since
the close proximity of Union Square draws the most intense
shoppers away from Nob and Russian Hills.
The only notable
shopping is found along the western valley below the hills,
along Polk Street or "Gulch." Polk Street is a stretch
of eclectic retail, featuring antique shops, vintage clothing
stores, coffee shops, crepe houses and boutiques. Nob and
Russian Hills can be a convenient stop for lunch or a coffee
break after a hard day of touring in San Francisco.
