Is there somewhere nice to propose near Golden Gate Bridge?

August 2, 2006 9:18 AM

Is proposing to my boyfriend in a location from a Hitchcock thriller a good idea?

So after 7 and a half years, the time has come for me to propose to my boyfriend. Not quite sure why, as I'm not at all the romantic type, but he seems to expect me to do the asking (we're gay if that helps at all).

Our next holiday will end in San Francisco in early September, so I thought that might be nice location. Sadly my knowledge of San Francisco is taken entirely from the Hitchcock film Vertigo and Star Trek IV, so I'm stumped for locations.

In Vertigo, there's a great scene where Kim Novak throws herself into the bay just below the Golden Gate Bridge. The setting is very dramatic, with the Bridge looming above and the lovely view of the Bay to the right. (There's a photo of it here).
While I know the scene itself was filmed in a studio, does the location itself exist? If so, am I right in thinking that it is at the end of Marine Drive on this map? Is this location actually as pretty/romantic as I think it might be?

If not, can you recommend other places to propose in San Francisco? As I won't be getting down on one knee or anything like that I'm not too worried if there are other people around. However he might get a bit mushy and want to kiss me, so probably best not to do it in the middle of a non-gay friendly street or at a baseball game.

(BTW: We're both British, so we won't actually be having the ceremony until my tour ends and we go back to the UK in 18 months time).

posted by tonylord to human relations (25 comments total)

I don't know if it's a good idea or not, but the location is Fort Point.
posted by keswick at 9:20 AM on August 2, 2006

Yes, thats Fort Point.
posted by vacapinta at 9:21 AM on August 2, 2006

As I won't be getting down on one knee or anything like that I'm not too worried if there are other people around. However he might get a bit mushy and want to kiss me, so probably best not to do it in the middle of a non-gay friendly street or at a baseball game.

"Always make the audience suffer as much as possible." - AH
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:24 AM on August 2, 2006

Thar she is.

...And, you'd be hard-pressed to find a non-gay friendly street in San Fran :-)
posted by jckll at 9:30 AM on August 2, 2006

Wish I could be there with a telephoto lens to capture the moment for you kids! Go to, go to!
posted by pax digita at 9:32 AM on August 2, 2006

I suggest the street crossing when Kirk said "Double dumbass on you!"

Seriously though, is your boyfriend a big hitchcock fan?
posted by drleary at 9:34 AM on August 2, 2006

Is this location actually as pretty/romantic as I think it might be?

Since keswick beat me to it, I feel that I should address this other point.

Yes, it is beautiful. There's an old Fort there as you can see and if you stand at the top of the fort it almost feels as if you can reach up and touch the bottom of the bridge. On a nice day, with sailboats going by, wisps of fog floating over the bridge it can be dramatic.

That said, tourists do go there and while its not as touristed as other touristy sites in san francisco you will have other people milling around, depending on when you go. If you kiss each other I assume most tourists will just think "only in san francisco!" and maybe snap your picture.
posted by vacapinta at 9:34 AM on August 2, 2006

It's a public park, there'll be joggers, kids, dogs, strollers, many many tourists, surfers (in the water), maybe one or two naked guys (cos it's SF).
I doubt anybody will mind, you might get some applauses if people figure out what you're doing.
posted by signal at 9:36 AM on August 2, 2006

The Trek movie's "Cetacean Institute" is actually down in Monterey, which is another beautiful spot.
posted by Kirklander at 10:06 AM on August 2, 2006

Another thing to be wary of -- there's a not-so-small chance that Fort Point will be foggy, perhaps even obscuring your view of the bridge even if you're right under it. Fog's fairly constrained by time of day, so if you do your research, you should be able to schedule around it, but if you want to make sure the moment matches the picture in your mind, look into the fog reports a bit to make sure it's clear. And congrats!
posted by anildash at 10:13 AM on August 2, 2006

If you want a great view of the bridge looking down at it rather than up, there's the Marin Headlands.
posted by staggernation at 10:30 AM on August 2, 2006

This isn't near the bridge, but includes a view of the bridge.

Jack Early Park, it's a small park up a long flight of steps, seemingly private, great plants, only two benches, a perch.

Good luck and congratulations.
posted by cior at 10:51 AM on August 2, 2006

I have absolutely nothing constructive to say about San Fran, but...


Congratulations :)
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:54 AM on August 2, 2006

I think you should take the Golden Gate Ferry out to Sausalito and propose on the boat. It'll be pretty and possibly more private, and you can make reservations for a romantic dinner in Sausalito at the other end -- maybe here?
posted by footnote at 11:07 AM on August 2, 2006

There's always Land's End, on the ocean side of the GG Bridge. You follow a path which takes you to an overlook where you can see both the bridge and the grand Pacific.
Lands End. Beautiful.
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 11:49 AM on August 2, 2006

Trying the link again.... sorry...

posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 11:50 AM on August 2, 2006

http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen/fullscreen22.html
posted by SoftSummerBreeze at 11:50 AM on August 2, 2006

I personally think the view from the other side of the bridge is much nicer. Go for a day of wine tasting up in Marin, buy a bottle of champagne and bring it to Battery Spencer at sunset. You're up above the bridge; you can see the whole bay area and the sun setting over the ocean. It's an amazing view whether it's foggy or not. Should be a little less crowded with tourists, too.
posted by team lowkey at 12:11 PM on August 2, 2006

Bodega Bay, where The Birds was filmed, is right up the coast about an hour and a half. You could prolly find a nice B & B there.
posted by wsg at 12:21 PM on August 2, 2006

How about dinner at Greens?
posted by rdc at 12:29 PM on August 2, 2006

Guys,
thank you all for yopur advice. Some reall great ideas here. I'll let you know how it goes!

tonylord

PS: I love the idea of the Sausalito ferry (not least because that's where Chekov and Uhura board the nuclear wessel)
posted by tonylord at 3:29 PM on August 2, 2006

Another vote for the other side of the bridge. go up to the headlands, and check out fort kronkite. beach, ocean, view of the bridge... good stuff.
posted by atom128 at 3:52 PM on August 2, 2006

tony, here's an interactive map of the Presidio (which includes Fort Point), so you can preview that and other cityside options.

Also, if you're good sports and the metaphor is not too uncomfortable for you (both), how 'bout Alcatraz? (Seriously, the views are great!)
posted by rob511 at 5:19 PM on August 2, 2006

rdc: "How about dinner at Greens?"

No idea whether you're considering this, tonylord, but (as a recent visitor to San Francisco) I'll second — maybe not the place to propose, but the food is great (and the view!).
posted by rafter at 2:31 PM on August 3, 2006

Thanks for all your help guys!

I did do it (in the end), but we didn't get all the way to Fort Point. It was cold, foggy and grim. I was hungover and we were both tired.
In the end I did it on a park bench looking out over the bay to Alacatraz.

(He said yes BTW!)
posted by tonylord at 9:32 AM on October 9, 2006