The 15 Best Places to Propose in California

Ready to get down on one knee? Look no further than the Golden State to pop the question for your happily ever after. With plenty of beautiful places to propose, California has been the launching pad for many of our favorite love stories, and yours will be no different. You just work on picking a ring and getting creative with how you’re going to ask—we have your back with the best places to propose in California.

The Best Places to Propose in the Golden State

Time to set the scene for amour—these are some of the most romantic places to propose in California. Whether you’re looking to make a grand gesture at an uber-romantic spot or popping the question somewhere private and intimate, these places to get engaged will have anyone saying yes.

The Best Places to Propose in Northern California

1. Napa

You can’t go wrong with a proposal in Napa. Plan a romantic getaway to Wine Country, check in at a beautiful boutique hotel, enjoy a scenic drive, and get down on one knee at one of the many picturesque corners in the county. A hot air balloon ride, a pretty garden in a winery, a high-end restaurant overlooking the valley—the romantic places to propose in Napa are plenty. 

2. Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur is definitely one of California’s most romantic sandy stretches. Head over to this romantic place to propose at sundown and you’ll have your picture-perfect moment with rocky cliffs, purple-hued sands, and cotton candy skies.

Beautiful Places to Propose Near Sacramento

3. World Peace Rose Garden

Hundreds of fragrant roses, lakeside views, and a romantic speech—could this proposal get any better? The red and white roses symbolize the unity for life, so you’re definitely at the right place to start a new chapter.

4. Effie Yeaw Nature Center

If you and your partner are big animal lovers, the Effie Yeaw Nature Center is an amazing option and a good place to propose. The nature preserve is especially beautiful and amounts to truly beautiful engagement pictures; your IG feed will be poppin’.

Good places to Propose in the San Francisco Bay Area

5. Coit Tower

Cityscape proposals are always amazing—throw in unobstructed views of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge and you have a formula for guaranteed success. Call ahead to get access to the private balcony and you won’t even have to share the 360-views with anyone else at one of the best places to get engaged.

6. Marin Headlands

Do foggy views of the ocean and S.F. sound appealing to you? The Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is your best match in proposal locales. This is a good place to propose if you want great views and not too many people in the way—just make sure you hire a photographer to come along and capture the special moment.

7. The Palace of Fine Arts

Whether you like architecture or not, the Palace of Fine Arts is a spellbinding place to propose. No matter the weather or season, this beautiful structure creates a gorgeous background for your San Francisco proposal.

The best Places to Get Engaged Near Tahoe

8. Right on the Lake

Take your partner on a Lake Tahoe sunset dinner cruise and pop the question right as the sun sets over the emerald blue waters. Several tour companies offer sunset cruises in Tahoe, and Zephyr Cove is one of the best. The beginning of forever has never been this romantic.

9. Scenic Overlooks

Hikers will especially love this sport—if you and your partner enjoy trekking, head up to the Upper Eagle Falls for unparalleled views and surprise them by getting down on one knee. If Upper Eagle is too much of a hike, an equally beautiful spot is the Vikingsholm Scenic Overlook. As two of the best places to propose in Tahoe, both these spots offer picture-perfect views that’ll look mesmerizing in your engagement photos.

The Best Places to Propose in Southern California

10. Torrey Pines State Park

A favorite place for proposals for many couples, the 1,500-acre Torrey Pines State Park in La Jolla is a thing of dreams. You’ll see vibrant flora and rich fauna, plunging cliffs, and wild crashing waves at one of the best places to propose in Southern California. And who wouldn’t want to say ‘yes’ when they’re surrounded by natural beauty?

11. Santa Monica Pier

For classic romantics, surprising your partner with a ring on the Santa Monica Pier is one of the most perfect rom-com proposals you can craft, especially if you do it on the Ferris wheel. This is a quintessential SoCal locale you can’t go wrong with—it’s definitely one of the best places to propose in California. 

The Best Proposal Spots in Orange County

12. Disneyland Park

The Happiest Place on Earth has seen many proposals throughout the years, and you’re next. Head to this best proposal spot in Orange County to make your girlfriend feel like the princess she is and make her Disney dreams come true in the most romantic way possible. Celebrate with a churro a la the Lady and the Tramp after and you got yourself a magical day.

13. Treasure Island Beach

If you like the idea of proposing on the beach but don’t want to have an audience, choose one of California’s secluded beaches to pop the question. Treasure Island Beach is one of the most beautiful ones in the state with secret coves, golden sands, and a scenic setting that’s a good place to propose and a great way to make your partner swoon.

Incredible Places to Propose in Los Angeles

14. Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Want to have the most fairytale-esque proposal? Head to one of the best places to propose in Los Angeles. Whether your dream proposal is at a subtropical forest, a cactus-covered landscape in a desert, or a royal garden in China, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens meets your expectations and exceeds them.

15. Griffith Observatory 

An L.A. bucket list attraction for sure, Griffith Observatory is the place to go for a swoon-worthy big-screen proposal. Stunning views of the Los Angeles basin and the ocean, awe-inspiring architecture, and a gateway to the cosmos? If this isn’t one of the best places to propose in California, we don’t know what is.