San Francisco Engagement
 

Well, I'm ready to ask my girlfriend to marry me. I'd like to pop the question when we're out there mid-May. I've been to SF a few times before, but I don't know the city well, so I need some help.
Where do you think is the most romantic place in the city? I'm not planning on the give-her-the-ring-at-a-restaurant approach. I'm thinking someplace dramatically beautiful, natural; someplace we can have time to ourselves. The performing arts center (? is that the name, in the marina district), or the Marin Highlands overlooking SF, or Muir woods, or in a helicopter ride over the city (not so quiet though, eh?). I am open to a lot of different ideas, so fire away!

I think you mean the Palace of Fine Arts, which would be a cool place to propose except that it would not be particularly private.

Marin Headlands (not Highlands) has a spectacular view, but is often windy and chilly.

You could get away from the crowds at Muir Woods if you hiked off the main path. Would you consider a hike at Pt. Reyes, or somewhere like that? There's always the middle of the GG Bridge for sheer drama!

Mid-May...hmmmm...you could do it right in the middle of the Bay to Breakers!

My brother in law popped the question to my sister mid-span on the GG Bridge.
I happen to like the Marin Headlands and Point Reyes. I recommend Abbott's Lagoon in Point Reyes.

Abbott's Lagoon is lovely. Quiet, not crowded, short and easy walk in to the beach. Take a picnic lunch. We will expect a full report after the big event, of course!

I agree with PamSF, the sudden quiet present at the center span of the Golden Gate Bridge is memorable experience.

It's hard to describe but as you walk towards the city, all you hear and feel is the wind across the bridge and the rushing traffic. Then you hit center span and are struck by both the majesty of the view and the overwhelming quiet. It really is spectacular. Moved me so much that I took that time to pull out the cellphone to call family and friends and I really hate to talk on the phone!

Best wishes on whatever you choose!

Wow! Thanks all. I NEVER expected to hear the middle of GG Bridge. I'll be thinking about that one. I've been to Point Reyes before, but just to a high bluff overlooking the water. Abbott's Lagoon sounds very intriguing (thanks Pam and Marilyn).

I'd love to hear more.

Al

Al, check this out.

http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/abbottslagoon.html

For even more info, google "Abbotts Lagoon"

Not sure how far you're willing to go but goatrock state park near Jenner, north of Bodega Bay is beautiful. Right where the russian river meets the pacific, seals playing, not crowded on weekdays. You could than hop over to Korbel or one of the other nearby winerys for a celebratory toast.

I don't know if you're planning to head up to the wine country during your stay but I have a friend who popped the question on a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. I have to say the GG Bridge idea sounds very dramatic (and romantic.)

Abbott's Lagoon is a migratory waterfowl reserve. You walk an easy 1.8(approximately) miles to the ocean beach passing green pastures(in mid may perhaps still filled with wild flowers) and a lovely lagoon. There are enormous sanddunes and a wonderful beach. The beach is such you will have a great portion of it to yourselves. There is a hill one can climb just at the lagoon. I spent one birthday watching brown pelicans from that hill for about three hours. I think they will be back from Mexico by then. It really is rather magnificent to watch them take off and land.The walk is an easy enough one you can sneak a split of champagne into your pack and carry it out with two glasses. If you are there Thursday-Sunday check out having dinner at Manka's afterwards. I'm not certain what nights are just for guests but it will be a fitting place to celebrate! You will have a drive of about 1 1/4 hours back to SF.

PS: the GG Bridge as a location has made for great fun over the years with my sister and brother in law. Everything from pressed pennies celebrating the 50th bridge anniversary to christmas tree ornaments of the bridge have meant great deal to them. I will say, he fell to his knees mid span and asked her to marry him. The story goes she said "get up,Mark and I will".

How about this -
Go to the lighthouse at Point Reyes (on a clear day, obviously) and propose to her from one of the observation points there. I mean, really, you can't get much further out on the western rim of the U.S. If you've ever seen the view of the Farallon Islands from there, you know what an impact this will have.

Or....for a more history-laden scene, how about Drake's Beach? I have been down on the shore there at sundown when the chalky cliffs turn rose-colored with the twilight and sworn I could feel the presence of Drake's ship there. Believe me, if I had been proposed to there, I would have been swept off my feet, and surely not just by a incoming wave!

Good luck whatever you choose - I don't think you can go wrong with any of the suggestions you have received so far!

If you like the sound of the ocean, here's a possibility: Go to McClure's Beach, the northern most beach of Point Reyes. Bring a picnic. Walk down to the beach. Once on the beach, go to the left all the way to the end of the beach. Walk through the cleft in the cliff and you will find yourself on a little beach with no one else there. It is generally portected from the wind by the jutting cliffs.

Ah, this is why I love the Fodor's forum (I've used it and advised on Italy many times...).

Alright, I don't remember how far Point Reyes is from the city. She's just in for a short weekend (Fri pm to Sun pm) and we're meeting my dad for dinner Sat. I was planning to do this Sat afternoon, so we can all celebrate Sat at dinner. I may rent a car for points north, but dang, the middle of GG bridge sounds unique. I was also planning to get her a massage, facial, maybe haircut Sat am to pamper her prior to dragging her off

oops..... prior to dragging her off on a wild adventure. I don't want it to get TOO hectic! So I was thinking a reasonable travel time is within the city and Sausalito/Tiburon/Headlands area (I hear you about the wind though for the last one). I'm still interested in the Abbott's Lagoon and the secret spot off McClure's. Both sound great. I'll need to do some readin'. How far a drive??

I have reservations at Aquarello Sat pm. Any serious thumbs up or down on that one?

Thanks for all your comments and input. BTW, this will all be May 21-23, so yes, I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes when I return.

Mille grazie,

Alfredo

By the way, if it's lousy weather, anyone have any indoor suggestions?

I'm still open to other suggestions regarding possible locations.

Thanks,

Alfredo

It takes about 1 1/4 hours from SF to Point Reyes. The walk out Abbott's Lagoon is about 45 minutes(It's about 1.5 miles to the beach although you will be in the midst of pasture and the lagoon sooner than that). If you can't stand the anticipation, there is a bench facing the lagoon maybe ten minutes into the walk. It will be on your left.
If you are planning to loop Tiburon, Sausalito and the Headlands, it will take you at least that long. Depending on where you are staying in SF, it could take about 30 minutes or less to make it to the Headlands if you do not include Sausalito and Tiburon first. The climb to the top of the hills(or thereabouts) will probably take you about 10-15 minutes if you park in the lot at Rodeo Beach. It is very windy. I have sipped champagne up there though and it's glorious!It might be the spot given your plans for the spa on Saturday and wanting to celebrate with your Dad that night. I haven't eaten at Aquarello but it's on my most do list.


Regarding the middle of the Bridge idea. You will have to park on either side and walk the span. You won't need a car if you do it on the SF side. You could take a cab to the SF side lot and walk from there.

Good luck!

Yay - I just got in SF myself. Don't worry about the weather. That time of year there's almost no chance of rain - the most you'll have to worry about it is that it will be chilly or foggy (unlikely, but romantic in it's own way).

But, just in case, I think SF MOMA would be a dramatic indoor location. On the top level there is a bridge across the atrium. There's also a small patio that looks west across the city.

Good luck!

Ooh, I kind of like that MoMA idea.

There are a few of places in Golden Gate Park that suggest themselves.

a) Shakespeare garden
b) Stow Lake maybe in the little chinese pavillion or from inside one of the little paddle boats
c) down by the windmill near Ocean Beach

Other places in the city:

Top of Twin Peaks
In the center of the labrynth at Grace Cathedral (the have one inside and one outside) or the beautiful little park across the street, which is the top of Nob Hill.

Baker or China beach looking out to the GG Bridge.

I second the Twin Peaks idea - but if the fog rolls in, you're screwed. And sometimes there's tons of tourists up there, but I think it's the best view in the city.
The Windmill on the Northwest end is great, there's a beautiful garden there and I'm sure you could find a nice, quiet corner.

Wave organ. If you are there after dark (which I admit may be a random time to propose) the lights of the Golden Gate Bridge are right there--beautiful sight.

Top of Angel Island. I will also second Stow Lake.

I'd consider taking the ferry to Angel Island for a quite walk. You can look out across the bay to SF or out towards the Golden Gate bridge. Best wishes & congratulations!

Alcatraz???

Just kidding!
I've never been to SF but have to vote for the GG bridge! THAT'S what I call drama!

Take her to dinner on the pier in Sausolito then pop the question on the ferry as it returns across the bay toward the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

You'll have the city lights, the bridges....

Lots of potential for what could follow - I leave that to your imagination.

OK. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST SOMETHING VERY CLOSE TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED AND SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO APPEAL TO YOU, BUT ALSO QUITE DRAMATIC AND POSSIBLY WITH SOME SHELTER IN CASE OF ADVARESE WEATHER - FORT POINT RIGHT BELOW THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.

I HAVE FOUND FORT POINT TO BE ONE OF THE LESS VISITED BUT MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOTS. TO GIVE U A BETTER IDEA OF WHY, IT IS A HISTORIC FORT THAT SITS RIGHT UNDER THE GG BRIDGE. ONCE YOU ENTER THE FORT YOU CAN CLIMB UP ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP AND WHAT DO YOU SEE :
THE gg BRIDGE RIGHT ABOVE YOU [SO YOU'RE NOT IN THE MIDTS OF TRAFFIC, BUT RIGHT UNDER THE BRIDGE], THE BAY TO YOUR RIGHT AND THE OCEAN TO YOUR LEFT. THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE THE OCEAN BECOMES THE BAY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC AND ROMANTIC SPOTS AND NOT VERY TOURISTY OR WELL KNOWN IN MY OPINION. ALSO PRIVATE UNLIKE BEING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE WHERE SHE PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN HEAR YOU PROPOSE AMIDST THAT TRAFFIC NOISE.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THIS SUGGESTION MIGHT BE THAT FORT POINT IS NOT OPEN ANY MORE. IT USED TO BE OPEN TO VISITORS TILL RECENTLY, I HEARD ABOUT IT BEING SHUT DUE TO FEAR OF TERRORISM THREATS, BUT NOT SURE. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH.

I think one can not walk out as far as Fort Point as the poster above wrote. There was an article in todays SF Chronicle which said the National Guard will be leaving that area soon. That being said, I'd still say a proposal will work on the GG Bridge as my sister and brother in law will attest to!

Another suggestion might be Coit Tower..someone who has been there recently might be able to advise.

You know cassidy2002 if there is a place to go and she'd least expect it, Alcatraz would be it! There is an isolated area on the back side, great view of Golden Gate.

Alrightee then! Nah, I don't think I'm going to sweep her off her feet at Alcatraz. I don't think I could endure the jokes that could be made from that for days, weeks, and years to come!

Fort Point sounds ~interesting, but it sounds like it's closed anyway. I agree that the middle of the GG bridge has cache (sp?) immediately. I really like the idea of the top of the Marin Headlands (PamSF and others)- is it obnoxiously windy or just windy? It sounds dramatic and I imagine it would give us some alone time to soak in the moment. The atrium bridge at MOMA sounds cool also (thanks Mel) as an indoor option. I may also check out the GG park and Twin Peaks spots (thank you BayArea and gotphish).

I think I have my work cut out. I get out there the 18th for a conference. I'll try to run around to these places for the pre-'pop the question' evaluation! Thanks all. And she wonders why my evenings are busy! I gots plannin' to do... I've been running here and there, looking at rings, reading stuff on SF, yada, yada...

My only thought about the middle of the bridge is....

What if you dropped the ring!!!

- - whoooosh -


- - whooooosh -


- - whooooosh -


\ \ splash / /


Eek!

You're welcome. By the way, I have a tendency to skip over words when I type (brain faster or slower than fingers?), and I missed a big one in my last post. What I meant to say was, "I just got 'engaged' in SF myself."

The moment itself will be so romantic that you really can't go wrong with any of these locations, so don't run yourself ragged trying to find the perfect one. I'd tell you where my fiance proposed, but it wouldn't mean anything to you. It was just a boring financial district street. What made it special is that he wasn't supposed to be there. I was in town on a business trip and he was waiting outside the office in a limo when I was supposed to head to the airport. Instead, I got a ring and a weekend in SF, the city where we met and had lived together until we moved to LA last summer.

Lastly, I always wanted to try Aquarello, and it seems like a good choice for a celebratory dinner.

A word about the Wave Organ.
You know that some visitors have taken the sign literally as an instruction to......
Old joke. Done to death by numerous columnists in S.F.
Couldn't resist!

LOL Dovima... I should probably start reading local editions... @-)

Alfredo, please post a "trip report" upon your return.

WELL! So, I rent a limo to pick us up after dinner at Kokkari. My best friend and his wife are with us, and after champagne at dinner (just to celebrate seeing them, I told her), we took the limo to Palace of Fine Arts for a stroll, then dropped them off at their hotel.
We then went to the far side of the GGB. Unfortunately, the pedestrian walkway is only open during the day, due to the security concerns. I, of course, started to climb the fence, since I was hell-bent on getting out to the middle of the bridge! Very quickly, and very strongly, a voice told me to get off the gate. Didn't sound like I should ignore that one!

So, from the parking lot at the foot of the bridge, overlookin downtown SF, I held her from behind, opened the ring box, and told her I wanted her to be my wife. She didn't say ANYTHING (well, she did start to cry, and I assumed that was good), so after about 30-45 seconds, I said, 'Well, yes or no'. To which she and I started laughing, and she said 'Yes! Yes!'

So the following morning, I had arranged for her to have a massage and a haircut at the Four Seasons, and then we met up with my dad and his wife for lunch in Sausalito. Immediately after getting out of the car, my dad spotted the ring, and the secret was out.
Somewhat of a bummer about the bridge, but it worked out well anyway, and it was a great weekend (BTW, we walked out to the middle of the bridge Sat afternoon after lunch in Sausalito to see how it would have been). She had never been to SF, but fell in love. What a great reason to go back. Probably have to go back and make it to MOMA, and all the other great places everyone mentioned. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.

Al

Congratulations Al! So glad you thought better of climbing that bridge.

Oh, Alfredo, thanks so much for letting us know what happened! People always say they will, but not everyone does.

So, in the end, it didn't really matter where you proposed, and you still have a great story to tell your kids.

All best wishes to you both. You are obviously a special guy and she must be something special as well to deserve your devotion.

Big congratulations!!! That is so cute that you tried to climb the fence to get to the middle of the bridge!! Best of luck to the both of you! ((L))

Congratulations..and what a wonderful memory to last a lifetime. As you know, my sister and brother in law became engaged mid-span on the Golden Gate Bridge. Many years later they still like to get GG Bridge memoribilia.So, when's the wedding and do you have hotels reserved for us all?

Congratulations!

We just went back to SF for our 5th Anniversary. Stayed at the Fairmont on Nob Hill. Great trip, great memories. We walked from the Fairmont to the GG bridge, then had to take a taxi across as we were whooped after the walk. We went to the foot of the bridge on the Suasalito side to recreate the moment, but midday, with about 200 others around was not the same mood as midnight! Nevertheless, it was fantastic to renew our love affair with the city. We went without our 2 little ones, and she actually will remember her time in SF this time (she was a bit dazed last time...).

I just thought I'd give the long-term follow-up for those who helped me back with info back in 2004.