map washington dc mall 555 C olumbus A ve. (bt w. Union and Gr een sts.). &415/362-7727. Reser vations not ac cepted. H igh

After passing the Cable Car M useum, the cable car continues climbing Nob Hill and then turns north onto Russian Hill s tree- lined H yde S treet. A t the top of H yde Street, get off at the intersection with Lombard Street, the so-called crookedest street in the world. Snap some photos of Alcatraz I sland, the S an F rancisco B ay, Coit Tower, and Telegraph Hill just try not to do so from the middle of the street, as some o ver-enthusiastic sightseers ar e wont to do. Then stroll down, and back up, the Lombar d S treet steps; in spring and early summer, the street is lined with colorful blossoms. See p. 162.

555 C olumbus A ve. (bt w. Union and Gr een sts.). &415/362-7727. Reser vations not ac cepted. H igh-129 chairs. M ain c ourses $12 $17. MC, V. M on Sat 11:30am 9pm. Muni: P owell-Mason cable car or no. 30-Stockton bus to Union St.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Visitor Information Center on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza on Powell map washington dc mall and Market streets (&415/3912000; www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com). The staff is multilingual and genuinely helpful. Visit the information center for books; maps; Municipal Railway passes for buses, streetcars, and cable cars; souv enirs; and tons of br ochures to guide y ou fur ther. I t s open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and w eekends 9am to 3pm.