# Assistance with Popping the Question in San Francisco **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022 "2008-01-25T21:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/1 "2008-01-25T21:56:31Z")
I’m heading to San Francisco next week on business, and my girlfriend will be coming out after the work is through for a mini-vacation…or so she thinks. I’ve purchased the ring and asked the parents- Now it’s time to ask her. The catch is that I have never been to San Francisco, and have no clue where would be a good place. I would like to do this outside, in the early evening, at someplace that has a nice view of something, and where I could get away with drinking a glass of wine in public. (Maybe a park? By the ocean?) I figured that I would follow this with a nice dinner, and then drinks somewhere decent where we could talk. I was thinking of doing this on Thursday (since I’m going to explode if I don’t get this off my chest soon), but I suppose I could wait until Friday if need be. So…Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/2 "2008-01-25T22:06:02Z")
Can’t beat the Palace of Fine Arts: [http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/Rotunda\_side.jpg](http://www.palaceoffinearts.org/Rotunda_side.jpg) Or maybe the Marin Headlands: [Marin Headlands - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)](http://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm) Check out the lighthouse at Point Bonita. Also the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is pretty. : [http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Japanese\_Tea\_Garden.html](http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Japanese_Tea_Garden.html) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/3 "2008-01-25T22:12:05Z")
Alcatraz! What an awesome story it will make in the future. " My husband proposed to me in prison!" Good luck, best wishes! ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/4 "2008-01-25T22:16:24Z")
Top of the Mark! (Bring money, great view, you’ll never forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/5 "2008-01-25T23:01:02Z")
Aren’t many better views in San Francisco than [the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the park on the Southern end.](http://www.earthinpictures.com/world/usa/san_francisco/golden_gate_bridge.jpg) Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/6 "2008-01-25T23:08:22Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] Can’t beat the Palace of Fine Arts [/QUOTE] I agree. I was married there. It’s a lovely place - and a park. Unless they migrate there might even be swans floating by as you ask. Very picturesque. You could certainly drink a glass of wine there (I think…don’t know about CA’s open container laws) and from there you can walk to some lovely restaurants. Can’t recommend any since I haven’t been there since 1996, but surely someone here will know some. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/7 "2008-01-25T23:09:41Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] Aren’t many better views in San Francisco than [the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from the park on the Southern end.](http://www.earthinpictures.com/world/usa/san_francisco/golden_gate_bridge.jpg) Good luck! [/QUOTE] Except the ones from the North end. [http://www.bstorage.com/photo/HowTo/SF/GGBridge/BatterySpencer.htm](http://www.bstorage.com/photo/HowTo/SF/GGBridge/BatterySpencer.htm) pictures on a clear day from Spencer Battery really can’t be beat… ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/8 "2008-01-25T23:24:49Z")
Well, I proposed in the bleachers at Candlestick Park… …not likely to be of much use to you now, but it was a great weekend for us! (the Giants swept the series from dem bums down in LA) ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/9 "2008-01-25T23:42:38Z")
Last time I went by the Palace of Fine Arts, it was under construction. Admittedly, that was a few months ago but you may want to check it out first. [This](http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/01/14/daily46.html?jst=pn_pn_lk) says the dome is being restored and was dated 1/18/08. [This](http://www.lovethepalace.org/work.html) says they’re in phase 2 of the work. You may also want to have a backup indoor location as we’re currently getting some craptastic weather and it _is_ the rainy season. Anyway, I vote for Alcatraz too, but I’m strange that way. Or else take her to Napa and [The French Laundry](http://www.frenchlaundry.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/10 "2008-01-26T00:19:29Z")
Yeah, um I think The French Laundry requires reservations months in advance, so I think that’s out. You may want to take weather into account. We just had a huge storm roll in today and it’s going nowhere fast. It is going to be cold - really cold, it has been snowing at 2000 feet for the last week - and wet and probably dark. I’d stick with a nice restaurant with a view, personally. The GG Bridge would be beautiful if you were coming in July. January, not so much. Top of the Mark is great. There are others as well. Hate to rain on the parade but you may be getting rained on while you’re here. ---
**Author:** ![Myself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Myself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myself)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/11 "2008-01-26T00:51:38Z")
Second vote for Top of the Mark… Class and tradition…and check this view! [http://www.topofthemark.com/history.html](http://www.topofthemark.com/history.html) ---
**Author:** ![Kalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/df705f/32.png) [@Kalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalypso)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/12 "2008-01-26T01:00:21Z")
If you’re taking cabs be careful about the Palace of Fine Arts. I had a horrible time trying to get from there back to the center of the city one Saturday afternoon. Coit Tower might be fun, great view: [http://www.sftravel.com/coit-tower-san-francisco.html](http://www.sftravel.com/coit-tower-san-francisco.html) ---
**Author:** ![Viridiana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Viridiana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viridiana)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/13 "2008-01-26T02:19:14Z")
Just so you know, I think it’s supposed to rain all next week. And it’s cold as shit here. Cool with that? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/14 "2008-01-26T02:23:56Z")
Another vote for Alcatraz. And inside one of the cells. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/15 "2008-01-26T03:07:32Z")
If it’s the Marin Headlands, bring good thick coats. And be prepared for plenty of wind coming off the water. Friend of mine got married up there in the summertime, we’re talking July or so. Nearly died of cold – I was wearing a sundress. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/16 "2008-01-26T04:30:08Z")
Just wanted to say Congrats! (not in the position to make any recommendations) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/17 "2008-01-26T05:28:06Z")
I liked Coit tower a lot. If you guys are atypical in many ways, another good place would be Lombard Street - I’ve seen other slopes about as squiggly as that one, but not inside towns! (And its gardens are pretty) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/18 "2008-01-26T06:30:43Z")
On a [San Francisco Cable Car](http://www.sfcablecar.com/), complete with audience. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/19 "2008-01-26T15:46:41Z")
Thanks for the info folks! I’m sorry I can’t get back to post individual replies, but she is with me this weekend, and gaining PC privacy is a tad difficult. I’m aware of the weather- I saw that temps were in the 40’s 50’s; which would be quite balmy compared to the teens, 20’s, and 30’s we have been experiencing. I’ve got a few more questions, but they are going to have to wait until she goes out, or is asleep. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022/20 "2008-01-26T16:12:55Z")
[QUOTE=Spit] I’m sorry I can’t get back to post individual replies, but she is with me this weekend, and gaining PC privacy is a tad difficult. [/QUOTE] You better get used to it… My wife teases me mercilessly whenever she catches me reading the Dope. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assistance-with-popping-the-question-in-san-francisco/435022.md?page=2)