I plan to propose to my girlfriend in the Big Apple a couple days after Christmas this year. We have about 5 days to spend in NY, plus travel time. I want to drive there from Texas to see the country. I am worried about the weather that time of year and a place to park in the city. I'm thinking, weather permitting, I would drive just outside of the city, park, and take a cab or bus into Manhattan. Does anyone think I'm crazy, or have any suggestions? Do you think we'll get snowed in? Thanks for any info!

It very rarely snows before January in NYC, and certainly not in the "snowed in" way, except under unnatural circumstances (e.g., the blizzard of '96 was right about then). If you're stating in Manhattan, I don't know that you'll want to park the car elsewhere and leave it unsupervised for days. But garage parking in NY is very expensive. If you do park outside the city for the day, the Hoboken, NJ PSATH station is a possibility; you can then take the PATH train into the city.

To pop the question, lets all come up with some good ideas (romantic ideas) for Chris to use to ask.

Ummmm.....

1. Ice Skating under the tree at Rock Center (skate there during the day, the evening is VERY busy)
2. Top of the Empire State.
3. Dinner at Tavern on the Green
4. Get it on a billboard in Times Square

I'm gonna think about this one and come up with a few more ideas, and I am sure other regulars will have some great ideas for you too.

tweedy

Since it's come up a few times lately, how about the Cloisters? I was thinking specifically of the pathway between the subway and the monastery. It might be rather bleak that day, but then again, who knows? If it happens to be sunny, the reflection off the two rivers might be an omen.

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Whoever you ask to marry you, after you park her in New Jersey and load her on to the PATH train to NYC to ask her to marry you, will be a patient and understading soul if she says "yes" after that hassle. If she still agrees to marry you after your planned car trip to Texas to "see the country," she is either in a coma or a saint.
Do yourselves both a favor: Either park in the city---spring for a garage on the West side waterfront then cab it if you are short on funds---or take her to a restaurant that has parking, say F'illi Ponte's on the West side of TriBeCa, and ask her over a nice dinner. If you give the parking attendant there $20 bucks he just might let you keep the car there while you sneak away to pop the question.

Trevor has no soul. NYC is an expensive city, and you can probably finance a very good dinner on what you would save by parking the car outside the city and spending your 5 days in the city free of car-worries. That said, here is my suggested list of places to pop the question:
1 - In front of Tiffany's
2 - During one of those overpriced but still romantic carriage rides through Central Park
3 - At the top of the World Trade Center, looking out over the city as the sun sets
4 - After a fabulous meal in a romantic restaurant you can say "The only thing that would make this night even more perfect would be....."

Good luck and (hopefully) Congratulations!

If a romantic dinner is what you are looking for...One If By Land is all I have to day.

You hold her hand in yours...
You gaze into her eyes...
You say those immortal words
"You're PREGNANT ?!"

New York can be very romantic that time of year - also, sometimes EXTREMELY cold. We go to NYC every year between Christmas and New Years to see the Christmas decorations. Last year was very warm, the year before was beyond frigid. So - aside from the weather, I would do the Carriage Ride as a previous poster suggested - if it's warm enough, but if it's cold - I'd do it inside a restaurant. The World Trade Center, Tavern on the Green (a cliche - but still pretty cool), or possibly the Plaza. I wouldn't do it on the street in New York - it's too crowded and confusing. As for parking, there are parking garages everywhere. There's one very close to the Plaza that is very convenient for the normal New York things (Tiffany's, Rockefeller Plaza - etc). You definitely don't want to leave your car outside the city as the previous posters suggested - it would dampen the romance.....

I live near NYC and visit there by car quite regularly. Getting into the city (I generally use the Lincoln Tunnel) is not much of a hassle provided that you drive in between 10AM and 3PM or after 8PM at night. This aso applies to exiting the city. I have found and routinely use secure indoor parking on 40th Street between 8th and 9th that is $17 per each 24 hours including all taxes and fees (important figure - these taxes and fees are approx 18%). I have also found a place on E 32nd just east of 3rd Ave that is $18 all inclusive for 24 hours. There may be better bargains for parking in NYC but I have yet to find them. Having done the parking outside the city and PATH train in with luggage in the past I can strongly recommend driving in and paying for parking. It is MUCH easier.

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How much "travel time" have you allotted to get from Texas to New York & back? My first concern with your plan is that you allow sufficient time to do so - or is this going to be a series of 14 hr. marathon driving days?

Your problem won't be snow in New York City; rather you need to be more concerned with plotting a good route so as not to get caught up in any icey or inclement conditions between your starting & ending points.

Go for the gold and ask her in the middle of the skating rink, under the watchful eyes of gilded Prometheus and the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

You could stay outside the city in Westchester County. Tarrytown is very nice, along the Hudson River. The Metro North train follows the river for most of its trip into Grand Central station. Great views of the Palisades as you hum along. In addition to NYC you could spend some time at the historic houses in the Tarrytown area, including Washington Irving's Sunnyside & Jay Gould's Lyndhurst, which are decorated for Christmas.

This post has been on here for 10 days and I have chosen to ignore it. Now that it has reached the status of "Hot thread" I can't ignore it any longer.

If you are not yet married, why are you going on a 5 day trip?

You are not yet married.

Any proposal you make is an afterthought. You've already been there done that....

Been where and done what, Me? Are you making a moral objection? Because if you are, I'd bet you a boatload that they've been there and done that at home in Texas. Or is this a "why buy the cow when the milk is free?" kind of question? In either case, a) why be judgmental about something that's not harming anyone, and b) what's wrong with someone wasnting to go to an exciting place to make a romantic proposal?

In other words, what, exactly, was your point?

Not a judgement. Just an observation.

Dear Me At Home,
Do you really think they're doing the nasty?

The nasty? Hmmmm...Haven't heard that description in awhile....

The observation wasn't meant to be about the "nasty" as you put it, but about the purpose of the proposal...

I should have just kept ignoring the post...*sigh* Next time I will....*smile*

I don't get your point, "me." The purpose of a marriage proposal is to ask the love of your life to spend the rest of her life with you. Obviously they haven't already "been there, done that."