Franklin St, Pacific Heights

Franklin is a super busy street, and not only during rush hour - all the time. It runs parallel to Gough and Van Ness (the old 101). It runs South to North, unlike Gough which runs North to South and it's an alternative to the already over-crowded Van Ness.When you get to the top of the hill at California (there's a Whole Foods) and start to go down hill, it reminds me of one of those carnival rides where you got in a burlap sack and slid down the slide. Did I just give away my age? Ah well.

I wouldn't want to live on Franklin because it's so busy. But there are a ton of condos, houses and apartments along it. However, if I had to commute out of the city every day for work, I might consider it due to the fact that it is parallel to Gough and Van Ness.

This is the area of the painted ladies. No -- not that kind -- I mean the colorful Victorian houses! You'll get a workout on the hilly street, but you won't notice because you'll be too busy admiring the beautiful Victorians and Queen Anne houses rising above you, and marveling at the perfectly manicured gardens. You'll also be wondering who can afford to live on this old, elegant block of town. This street boasts the hydrangea surrounded Haas Lilienthal House, which gives tours on certain days of the week. It's a great way to get to see the inside of one of these old beauties.

Franklin is a one-way street that runs parallel to Van Ness. It is used, mainly, for those who want to avoid the pedestrians who love to take their time crossing Van Ness. It's a fast-paced street with no stores of any kind until you get past Geary going North. Then Franklin is a bit more interesting. It can get very congested, though, as lanes are fairly narrow and drivers speed.