For some, Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect day to propose marriage, and many will do just that on February 14th in a romantic restaurant, on a sunset beach walk, or even at a sports event.
But what about those of us who need a little more excitement, a little more…adrenaline?
For those of you seeking more than just the thrill of the moment itself, consider popping the question in one of the following venues. Because whether she says yes or no, it’s unlikely that she will ever forget the proposal — or you.
Rollin’ with Passion
How many people do you know who got engaged while rolling around in a bubble sphere? Located at Mt. Brighton in Brighton, MI, Sphere USA straps you inside a huge 12-foot inflatable ball. Two people can be strapped into the sphere, which has a three-foot durable cushion of air between you and the ground. You are released to roll down a mountain, where you will reach speeds of up to 30mph as you pop the question.
Sphere USA also offers something called aqua sphereing: Wearing your bathing suits, you can both slip and slide inside the sphere (unharnessed) with thirty liters of water while rolling down a hill. Visit www.sphereusa.com or call (810) 229-9581 for more information.
Great White Surprise
Go face-to-face with your primal fears by diving alongside Great White sharks — and proposing marriage at the same time! Shark Diver has packages in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Honduras, with varying levels of intensity, and will help arrange underwater proposals right next to hungry sharks — with you and your sweetheart in a safety cage, of course.
For $2,850, the Isla Guadalupe Shark Fleet Dive Package transports you from San Diego, California, to Isla Guadalupe for a five-day cage diving excursion with the Great White Sharks. Accommodations feature a range of rooms, including private staterooms, and on-board chefs will prepare almost any dish you like. Professional photography is also available for an extra fee. And for those concerned about the ecosystem, 10% of the proceeds go back to worldwide shark research.
After five years of “hands-on shark-diving operations” at Isla Guadalupe, Shark Diver has chosen experienced vessels and crews to offer you this unique opportunity. You don’t even need to be dive certified to cage dive at this location. Departures are from San Diego, California, near the San Diego International Airport. Visit www.sharkdiver.com or call (888) 405-3268.
Astro-Romance
Propose in outer space… or at least get the sensation that you are doing so. Incredible Adventures organizes the intergalactic adventure Zero Gravity, and will even help you with proposal arrangements. Begin by boarding a plane at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, which is similar to the center where astronauts prepare for space travel. Fly, float, and flip through the cabin during your “weightless” proposal.
For just over $3,000, the first stop is “Mars” for a taste of 1/3 gravity. Next, travel to the “moon” and experience lunar gravity parabolas. In lunar gravity, you weigh 1/6 of what you weigh on Earth. Finally, you arrive in “outer space.” Nothing can prepare you for your first encounter with zero gravity — where you’ll be bouncing uncontrollably about the cabin like human popcorn.
For more info, visit www.incredible-adventures.com
Bungee Bliss
If you want to add more of an “edge” to your proposal, perhaps jumping off a cliff with your heartthrob is the answer. Over the Edge, Inc. offers bungee jumping at different locations in Idaho, which is considered a bungee Mecca, due to its tall scenic bridges with light traffic. Each bridge is a different height, ranging from 90 to nearly 500 feet. The 90-foot jump costs $30 per person, and the 500-foot costs $100.
Visit www.overtheedgebungee.com or call (208) 731-1648 for more information.
Diamond Hunt
Ravenchase can customize a treasure hunt through any city’s landmarks, countryside, or institutions worldwide, so why not have your future fiancee unknowingly search for her engagement ring using handmade maps, codes, riddles, anagrams, puzzles, actors, gadgets, and more? Whether you are looking for a breathtaking jaunt through the back alleys of Paris, or would prefer a hunt in your local neighborhood, Ravenchase can help you create a memorable proposal.
Prices for a private proposal hunt begin at $2000 in the U.S., and $4000 internationally. If you’d rather spend your money on the wedding itself, though, you can sign up for a group hunt at just $25 per person. The company will arrange for you and your loved one to have the last 3-4 remaining clues specially tailored to your secret proposal (sending you away from the group for some privacy) — at no additional cost.
Visit www.ravenchase.com or call (888) 588-8862 for more information.
The Worry-Free Mile High Club
If you’ve ever fantasized about cornering your lover in a cramped airplane bathroom, why not make it a reality? Rated as one of the “50 Most Romantic Things to Do” in the Travel and Leisure magazine, Mile High Atlanta takes you and your bride-to-be up to over 5,280 feet above the earth’s surface so you have the rare, but legal opportunity to join the uh… “club.” The company is located at West Georgia Regional Airport near Carrollton, GA, just a short drive from the Metro Atlanta area.
For $299, you can have an hour flight in a Piper Cherokee Six designed exclusively for a romantic experience for you and your lover. For Valentine’s Day, the company offers a “romance” flight that includes a bottle of champagne and flowers during a sunset flight.
Bob Smith, the corporate pilot of the company, has helped several clients orchestrate unusual proposals. One client spelled out “MARRY ME” (using 40 bags of flour) behind his house. Bob flew the client and his fiance over the house, at which time he gave her the ring. According to Bob, “As far as I know they have lived happily ever after.”
Visit www.milehighatlanta.com or call (770) 301-9339 for more information.
By Monique-Marie DeJong for PeterGreenberg.com.
Want more romantic ideas? Try our tip about Rooms of Romance.
Don’t miss Sexy Hotel Getaways and Romance Advice on the Road.
Certain foods have aphrodisiac qualities, so check out Gourmet Traveling, North American Style.
