Macondray Lane is a hidden pedestrian path on Russian Hill that feels like a secret garden in the middle of the city. Wooden steps descend from Taylor Street through a wooded canopy of trees and lush plantings, with glimpses of the Bay and Alcatraz through the branches. It is two blocks long and utterly charming.
The lane is best known as the inspiration for Barbary Lane in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City -- a connection Maupin himself has confirmed. Even without the literary association, it is one of the most atmospheric walks in San Francisco. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.