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Best Places to Propose in Raleigh, NC

by Willyou.net * in Raleigh NC

Raleigh, also known as the “City of Oaks”, is the capital city of North Carolina. Known for its museums, parks, and universities, including North Carolina State, you’ll also find some of the Tar Heel’s best jewelry stores in Raleigh, NC.

Buying a diamond engagement ring doesn’t have to be stressful, but honestly, it can be at first. If you don’t know what to look for, the options may seem endless, and decision fatigue will quickly wear you out. You need to go online to do your own research on diamond engagement rings to have a basic understanding of how to buy rings. This way, you will be much better prepared when you finally meet your local diamond jeweler in Raleigh, NC, to find or make the ring of her dreams.

Your diamond jeweler will work closely with you to ensure that you’re satisfied. Shopping online may seem like the best place to find something these days because of its convenience, but when making an investment as significant as a diamond engagement ring, you want all the security you can get. Your local diamond jeweler will not only personally show and let you handle your ring, but will also be able to answer any diamond-related questions you may have. They’ll meet all your needs and make sure that the diamond ring you choose or design together is exactly what you’re looking for.

Another great advantage of local diamond jewelers is their general knowledge when it comes to everything and anything related to engagements. Over the years, they’ve worked with various excited couples who have shared proposal stories. Those stories are then passed on by jewelers to other soon-to-be weds to give them some engagement inspiration. They also have the best and most up-to-date romantic proposal location ideas. We spoke to some of our local jeweler partners in Raleigh, NC, and this is what they had to share:

Local Diamond Jeweler

“The Fearrington House Restaurant in Fearrington Village is one of the most spectacular places to propose in our area. The Village offers amazing views, an excellent inn, a restaurant, and is also a popular place for weddings. The City Market in downtown Raleigh is also a fantastic place to propose. With its unique ambiance and collection of art, restaurants, and stores, it’s a great place to get engaged.” – CMI Jewelry Showroom

CMI Jewelry Showroom was founded in 1970 and has grown into a nationally recognized diamond importer of loose diamonds and fine jewelry. Thanks to the increasing local demand for diamonds and engagement rings, the original jewelry store was opened to the public in Raleigh, NC, in the 1990s and was expanded into a 10,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. The continued growth of CMI Jewelry Showroom is a testament to a long-time commitment to their customers and the support of their community. CMI Jewelry Showroom specializes in the best engagement rings, wedding bands, fine jewelry, professional repairs, and more.

We met with the store’s manager, Tim Hackim, and asked: What is the most memorable proposal story you heard from a Raleigh, NC, customer?

“One of our customers created a scavenger hunt, which ended up in the mountains of North Carolina where he proposed to her. Such a cool idea and proposal.” – Tim H

2 Best Places to Propose in Raleigh, NC

1. North Carolina Museum of Art

If you’re visiting us with your bride-to-be and searching for a perfect proposal location, consider our North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC, 5.6 miles (10-minute drive) from Raleigh, NC, for over 5,000 years of artistic work to inspire your big moment.

2. Lake Johnson Park

You are also welcome at our glorious Lake Johnson Park, 4601 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC, 5.9 miles (12-minute drive) from Raleigh, NC, especially beautiful at sunset for a lake-side diamond engagement ring reveal.

The proposal options are endless at this gorgeous location. Lake Johnson Park covers more than 300 acres of land surrounding the 150-acre lake. The charming paved 700-foot-long boardwalk means you can take a nice, relaxing walk around the lake, or you can also just sit on the small beach area right next to the boat house and kick back with a drink. You can spend time in the shade if you need a break from the heat, or catch some rays in all the sunny spots if you’re up for it.

The peaceful and calming energy at Lake Johnson doesn’t detract from all of the water activity options. If you like to be on the water, you can decide to head to the boat house and rent a canoe, kayak, sunfish sailboat, a couple of stand-up paddle boards, or Jon boats.

You can rent:

Jon Boats ($4/ hour)
Pedal Boats ($6/ half hour)
Canoes ($5/ hour)
Kayaks ($5/ hour)
Stand up paddle boards ($10/ hour)

Both locals and visiting tourists enjoy everything the lakeside location has to offer. Your options aren’t just limited to the water, but include walking together, jogging, biking, fishing, and of course, having a romantic picnic. The lake is especially beautiful during the fall, with the colorful leaves in full view and reflected in the water, perfect for proposal pics.

Lake Johnson is divided by Avent Ferry Road which creates two separate walking trails. The East Loop (3 miles paved) is the main heavily trafficked trail where you can find the boat house and main car park. It’s completely paved with helpful signs and mile markers so you have a good idea of where you are. Walking clockwise from the boat house, the first half of the trail is flat and fairly easy. After the great view at the dam section and over the small bridge, the second half of the loop gets a little more challenging, but nothing crazy. The West Loop (2 miles unpaved) is located across the road from the boat house and is unpaved; a more natural walk in the woods.

Bottom Line…

Let us help you find her dream ring in one of our local Raleigh, NC, diamond shops. Log onto Willyou.net and find your local diamond jeweler today. For those curious about diamond ring styles and trends, we recommend visiting our guide to engagement rings in Raleigh NC.