5 beautiful places to propose in Canada

For what’s supposed to be the most romantic moment of your life, the setting ought to be extraordinary. And with landscapes ranging from arctic blue lakes to rose-gold sandy beaches, Canada has some truly foolproof options.

Recent Booking.com research found that 44% of Canadians plan to explore a new destination within our own country, and 47% will take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of Canada. Though this is hardly the ideal Valentine’s to travel to a new place to pop the question, these recommendations may be the inspiration you need to make sure the setting and the moment are extra special, when the time is right to travel again. 

Here are five of the most beautiful places to propose in Canada.

Lake Louise, Alberta

You can’t score more for scenery than by proposing aside Lake Louise, one of the star attractions of Banff National Park. In winter, the valley is thick with snow and you can ice skate on the lake’s frozen surface before getting down on one knee. But when the ice melts in spring is when the scene is most extraordinary (and romantic), as thawed glacier silt has slowly seeped into the water and given it a brilliant arctic blue hue that glows in the sunlight. July and August are the best times to see it but even in summer, it’s too cold for a dip; so hire one of the red canoes available instead and glide out across its incandescent surface to find a solitary spot to propose. Or you could pop the question at a lookout along one of the hiking trails that hug the shoreline, with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, glacier, fir, pine and aspen forest and the grey, turreted lakeside hotel, Fairmont Château Lake Louise. The Fairmont has added extra health & safety measures to ensure that guests feel safe and comfortable during their stay.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward island is the setting for nostalgic, classic kids’ series Anne of Green Gables and its bucolic landscape is made up by a patchwork of meadows, painted cottages and beaches marked by lonely lighthouses. It’s the smallest province in Canada but boasts more than enough romantic places to propose; from the rose-gold sands of Cavendish Beach, to beside gabled, clifftop farm houses along the Confederation Trail, a car-free path running the length of the island. Seafood is the local specialty, so after the proposal, you can feast on the freshest lobster and mussels in Canada to celebrate. The historic Prince Inn is just over a kilometre to the nearest beach, and a short drive from others if you want to try out a few. 

Whistler, British Columbia

Proposing on top of a mountain will no doubt be unforgettable, and Whistler is brimming with locations that are perfect for it. There’s even a secluded spot (with a tell-tale sign) called ‘Proposal Corner’, which can only be accessed on foot (snowshoes required) or cross-country skis in winter. From candlelit restaurants and hotel jacuzzis where you can sip champagne, to helicopter flights over the resort, there are ample extra special opportunities for popping the question. If you’re looking for something less prescribed, you could propose in your pod or at the top of the Peak to Peak gondola, where the brilliant-white, mountainous panorama makes a truly mesmerizing backdrop. Celebrate your proposal with a stay at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler.

Québec City, Québec

Sharing Québec City’s hilly, cobbled streets with harp players and boutiques makes for a very whimsical wander. Even though it’s the capital of the eponymous province, it feels more like a quaint European village and is home to the only walled town in North America. If you’re not shy about having an audience, get down on one knee in the old town’s irresistibly pretty main plaza, Place Royale. Or while walking along the Dufferin Terrace, a boardwalk from where the view extends all the way down the St. Lawrence River. If you’re after a more subdued setting, there’s the historic Victorian library in the Morrin Centre, or the Roger-Van den Hende Botanical Garden, under the shade of a vine-draped pergola. Stay just a 2-minute walk from Place Royale at Auberge Saint-Antoine, where soothing tones of taupe and lilac contrast with peacock-blue upholstery.

Saskatchewan Lakes, Saskatchewan

The prairie province of Saskatchewan is home to around 100,000 lakes and is peppered with scenic nature spots for getting down on one knee. There’s Manitou Lake, whose mineral and salt-rich water lets you float on the surface, much like the Dead Sea. Or head to the southwest shores of Waskesiu Lake, within the Prince Albert National Park, to propose on a remote beach bordered by boreal forest. Pack a picnic and spend the day swimming, sunbathing and hiking before lounging on the sand to watch the sunset – when the water is calm, and romantic red and auburn hues permeate the scenery. The province is huge but a good place to base yourself between Manitou Lake and Prince Albert National Park is the The James Hotel in Saskatoon. 

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