Meet Me in St. Louis: Five Romantic Spots to Pop the Question

When you are looking for a romantic place to propose, look in St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis has all the variety of a major metropolitan area, and all the charm of a riverfront town.

The Gateway Arch- Imagine being over 600 feet in the sky at dusk, looking out over the lights of downtown St. Louis. The Gateway Arch is one of the most romantic spots in the city. During the winter, the Arch is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In the summer, the Arch is open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visitors reach the top by riding a tram from either the North or South leg. Once at the top, look out of the windows at downtown St. Louis and the Mississippi River. Also from the Arch, take a riverboat dinner cruise. Cruises are available year-round, but there are holiday cruises as well. For Valentine's Day, a jazz trio performs live music to accompany dinner.

Forest Park- Pop the question while watching Maliha, the baby elephant. The St. Louis Zoo is full of romantic, off the beaten path spots to grab a quiet moment and watch the animals. The Zoo is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but often has special nighttime events as well. There are plenty of baby animals to soften up even the hardest hearts, including kangaroos and cheetah cubs. If baby elephants aren't your speed, take your sweetie to the St. Louis Art Museum, also located in Forest Park. The Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The hushed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings inspire romance.

The Missouri Botanical Garden- Get lost in the Kaeser Maze and find a quiet corner. The Missouri Botanical Garden is, quite simply, beautiful. There are acres of gardens, including the Victorian Area. The Victorian Area is home to both the Maze and Tower Grove House, a home built in 1851. Also notable is the Japanese Garden, the largest strolling Japanese Garden in the Western Hemisphere. Propose in the middle of one of the bridges that connects the islands- it is hard to be much more romantic. The pavilion in the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden is also an incredibly romantic spot. Go late in the day and propose as the sun starts to set. You won't be sorry. The Botanical Garden is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Garden is open on Wednesdays until 8 p.m.

The Butterfly House- Ask her to marry you as butterflies float around you. The Butterfly House has two main areas to see the butterflies. Outside, the Native Butterfly Habitat features a small pond and a waterfall. This area is also available for weddings, should you later desire to have your wedding where you proposed. Inside, walk through the Butterfly Conservatory. The Butterfly Conservatory is a tropical rainforest environment full of flowering plants and sixty different types of butterflies. St. Louis doesn't get much more romantic than this. The Butterfly House is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on most Mondays. Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Butterfly House is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last ticket is sold a half hour before closing.

Tony's- Tony's is legendary in St. Louis for proposals. Tony's has everything you are looking for- the food, the atmosphere, the service. It is where locals go to celebrate special occasions and make memories. The food is tremendous and it is consistently one of the highest rated restaurants in the city. The waiters wear tuxedoes and treat you like you are the only customers in the restaurant. Tony's will set the scene for your perfect proposal. They are open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

No matter what kind of proposal you are planning, from informal to pull out all the stops, St. Louis has a place for you. Grab your best girl and head to the Lou- it will be an experience you will never forget.