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Few moments in life can match the romance surrounding a proposal, and that's why we set out to find the best places on the planet to pop the question. For the last four weeks, USA TODAY 10Best readers have been voting daily in the category Best Place to Propose, and the results are in.
It was a tight race between the top two finishers – both in the U.S., proving you needn't fly overseas to find romance – but in the end the Empire State Building took home the title. This Big Apple icon is no stranger to romantic gestures, both in reality and in fiction (think Sleepless in Seattle and Gossip Girl), so it's no surprise our readers picked it as the best place to get down on one knee.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Place to Propose are as follows:
- Empire State Building - New York
- LOVE Sculpture - Indianapolis Museum of Art
- London Eye - London
- Eiffel Tower - Paris
- Motu Picnic - Bora Bora
- Grand Canyon - Arizona
- Rocky Mountain Hike - Colorado
- Trevi Fountain - Rome
- Canals of Venice - Venice
- Magic Kingdom - Orlando
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Ivy Jacobson (TheKnot.com), Susan Moynihan (The Honeymoonist), Michelle da Silva Richmond (10Best Travel Expert) and Lydia Schrandt (10Best Editor) were chosen based on their extensive knowledge of romance travel.
Additional nominees for Best Place to Propose included a sunset cruise in Key West; balloon flight in Napa Valley; Santorini, Greece; Tulum in Riviera Maya; Golden Gate Park in San Francisco; Inspiration Point in Grand Teton National Park; Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil; above Las Vegas; Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington and the Getty Center Gardens in Los Angeles.
10Best and USA TODAY extend their congratulations to all the winners.
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About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Ivy Jacobson
As Associate Editor at TheKnot.com, Ivy Jacobson... Read More
As Associate Editor at TheKnot.com, Ivy Jacobson creates, edits and reports on news and planning content for TheKnot.com and delivers weekly content to Yahoo, The Huffington Post and more. Her articles and reporting have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, The Huffington Post, Us Weekly, People and the LA Times. Ivy is a graduate of Florida State University with a concentration in English Literature, and a graduate of Pace University with a Master's Degree in Publishing. Prior to The Knot, Ivy's writing could be found at AOL, Bustle, HollywoodLife and Plum Hamptons magazine. Ivy grew up in Florida and currently lives in New York City. And although she loves to travel, she relishes in the fact that her apartment is only a 10 minute walk from Central Park.
Ivy Jacobson

As Associate Editor at TheKnot.com, Ivy Jacobson creates, edits and reports on news and planning content for TheKnot.com and delivers weekly content to Yahoo, The Huffington Post and more. Her articles and reporting have been featured on Yahoo, MSN, The Huffington Post, Us Weekly, People and the LA Times. Ivy is a graduate of Florida State University with a concentration in English Literature, and a graduate of Pace University with a Master's Degree in Publishing. Prior to The Knot, Ivy's writing could be found at AOL, Bustle, HollywoodLife and Plum Hamptons magazine. Ivy grew up in Florida and currently lives in New York City. And although she loves to travel, she relishes in the fact that her apartment is only a 10 minute walk from Central Park.
Susan Moynihan
Romance travel expert Susan Moynihan honed her... Read More
Romance travel expert Susan Moynihan honed her skills as travel editor for Conde Nast's Elegant Bride and editor in chief of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons. She now travels the world as The Honeymoonist, seeking out the absolute best in romantic destinations, hotels and extras, and planning custom travel for special occasions and destination weddings. Her eye for cool, paired with deep connections around the globe, allow her to create exceptional experiences from Mexico to Malaysia. Susan's other passions include vintage needlepoints, guacamole and rock and roll.
Susan Moynihan

Romance travel expert Susan Moynihan honed her skills as travel editor for Conde Nast's Elegant Bride and editor in chief of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons. She now travels the world as The Honeymoonist, seeking out the absolute best in romantic destinations, hotels and extras, and planning custom travel for special occasions and destination weddings. Her eye for cool, paired with deep connections around the globe, allow her to create exceptional experiences from Mexico to Malaysia. Susan's other passions include vintage needlepoints, guacamole and rock and roll.
Michelle da Silva Richmond
Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning... Read More
Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning travel editor and member of the Society of American Travel Writers and other journalism organizations. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, consumer and trade magazines and in-flight publications. In addition, she has co- authored and contributed to many guide books and was a weekly travel columnist for a metropolitan Connecticut daily newspaper. Growing up abroad, combined with a colorful career as a Pan Am flight attendant fueled her wanderlust and passion for travel. She lived in Mexico City for nearly 20 years and has visited nearly 100 countries. Her bags are always packed.
Michelle da Silva Richmond

Michelle da Silva Richmond is an award-winning travel editor and member of the Society of American Travel Writers and other journalism organizations. She has written hundreds of articles for newspapers, consumer and trade magazines and in-flight publications. In addition, she has co- authored and contributed to many guide books and was a weekly travel columnist for a metropolitan Connecticut daily newspaper. Growing up abroad, combined with a colorful career as a Pan Am flight attendant fueled her wanderlust and passion for travel. She lived in Mexico City for nearly 20 years and has visited nearly 100 countries. Her bags are always packed.
Lydia Schrandt
10Best Photo Editor Lydia Schrandt has seen a good... Read More
10Best Photo Editor Lydia Schrandt has seen a good portion of the world with her traveling companion and always enjoys savoring a new place a deux. Her camera lens is often trained on the most beautiful spots of a romantic destination, but she never forgets to pack away the gear and just enjoy the destination as any lucky couple might.
Lydia Schrandt

10Best Photo Editor Lydia Schrandt has seen a good portion of the world with her traveling companion and always enjoys savoring a new place a deux. Her camera lens is often trained on the most beautiful spots of a romantic destination, but she never forgets to pack away the gear and just enjoy the destination as any lucky couple might.