The best spots in the USA for a cinematic proposal

If you’re thinking about popping the question but are unsure of how to set the scene, here are the USA’s most picture-perfect proposal spots.

For a classic love story – NYC, New York

Anyone planning a proposal will have copious choices in the Big Apple when it comes to a romantic setting. There are classic options like beneath the billboards of Times Square or the celestial painted ceiling of Grand Central Station, on the Brooklyn Bridge or atop the Empire State Building à la Sleepless in Seattle. But there are plenty of lesser-known alternatives if a group of onlookers isn’t your thing – a ferry around Manhattan will provide great cityscape views and will be more low-key. You could also pop the question while rowing a hired boat in Central Park, while having a picnic on the Williamsburg waterfront, while strolling around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, while dining at a rooftop restaurant or at the Top of the Rock (the Rockefeller Center, where you’ll find fewer tourists than the Empire State). Stay at The Sherry Netherland, a grand hotel on Fifth Avenue that’s perfect for classic romantics.

For a Disney fairy tale – Orlando, Florida

Proposing in Orlando’s magical world of Walt Disney is the epitome of a fairy tale. And popping the question on bended knee in front of the gold, cream and blue turrets of Cinderella’s Castle is probably the most cinematic spot. But there are so many romantic settings in the park to choose from, including in a horse-drawn Disney carriage, during one of the nightly fireworks displays in the Magic Kingdom or on board a 4×4 wildlife safari through the Animal Kingdom. If you’re keen to make a grand gesture, the staff including many Disney characters will be keen to turn your proposal into a special spectacle – whether it’s a singalong in Ariel’s Grotto or rousing the crowds to clap and cheer for you (perhaps even getting a flash mob) during a parade (happily ever after guaranteed). Stay in the midst of the action at the Walt Disney World Dolphin.

For retro romance – York, Maine

In the USA’s northeastern corner is the state of Maine, where striped lighthouses are perched along the rocky coastline in-between sandy coves, and sailboats chase the breeze across the green-blue Atlantic, creating a soothing and naturally stunning setting for a proposal. You could propose in the Acadia National Park, where waves crash onto ancient coastal rock formations. Or at the peak of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast of the USA, which provides an unparalleled vantage point above pine and cedar forests, glacial lakes and waterfalls tumbling over granite cliffs. Take a picnic with you, filled with Maine’s speciality lobster rolls and crab cakes (plus champagne) to propose on the beach, or charter a yacht and get down on one knee during golden hour, when the scenery is at its most glorious. Check into Union Bluff Hotel, a white wooden villa facing straight onto York Beach.

For a chick flick tribute – Hawaii, Hawaii

If you’re hoping to impress your proposee into a definite ‘yes’, the scenery of Hawaii should do the trick. Underneath a waterfall in the rainforest? While tandem skydiving over a volcano? Or, present them with the ring while they’re sipping on a piña colada and staring at one of Hawaii’s orange and pink beach sunsets. Enjoy the outdoor lava showers and hot tub at Ka’awa Loa Plantation B&B.

For a California romcom fantasy – Big Sur, California

The Big Sur is a stretch of California coastline that boasts some of the USA’s most cinematic landscapes. There are cliffs that fall steeply into the Pacific, with thunderous waves that spray onto the rocks. There are forests of bright greens, hidden coves, misty sea views and bridges that cross gaping ravines. The Big Sur has served to inspire many artists and writers, including Jack Kerouac and his love affair with the American landscape, so there’s a strong romantic connection too. Stay at Alila Ventana Big Sur for the outdoor pool, bedrooms with fireplaces, grand bathtubs and panoramic Pacific views.

For a dramatic moment – Grand Canyon, Utah

For a Grand Canyon backdrop of contorted, burnt red-coloured rock contrasting against a deep blue sky, propose in a helicopter or standing on the glass Skywalk suspended above the canyon floor. Once you’ve got the answer you’re looking for, drive to Las Vegas for a speedy and kitsch ceremony, followed by a stay at a glamorous Las Vegas hotel. Sheridan House Inn sits surrounded by forest at the foot of Bill Williams Mountain, and is an hour’s drive from the Grand Canyon.