When Michael surprised me with plane tickets and a hotel in San Francisco for the weekend, I couldn’t have been more excited. It’s one of my favorite places in the world, and I love getting away for the weekend with him. And while I didn’t know it at the time, this trip would forever change my life.

We left early on a Friday morning and arrived by 9 AM in the city. Since we couldn’t check into the hotel until 3, we spent the morning and early afternoon stomping around, killing the time while enjoying each other’s company. Our first stop was Blue Bottle, which is a must every time we’re in San Fran even though locations are starting to pop up in other cities. It’s just so. good. I could probably live off of their toast and lattes and die happy.

After spending some time shopping around on Market Street, we headed up Stockton Street toward North Beach. Our mission? Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, obviously. It’s another of our absolute favorites in the city, and other natural first-day stop. We had their Margarita pizza and some strawberry infused Moscow mules (dead. so good.). After that, stuffed and tired from walking, we lounged and laid in the sun in the park across the street off of Union.

After that, we finally made our way back to our hotel, where we checked in well after the check in time. After a much-needed nap, we headed back out and went to dinner at Sauce, a place we had never tried. Again, so good. Honestly though, is there any bad food in San Fran? This did us in for the night, so it was time to rest up for the next day.

When we woke up on Saturday, Michael immediately began the process of renting a car for the day. He wanted to go across the bridge to Sausalito, the cutest little town across the bay where he had never been. With the rental accomplished, he packed an ice chest with stuff for the day and we headed over. The first thing we did was stop off at the famous Golden Gate and city overlook that’s on the other side of the bridge. Again, Michael had never seen that perspective, so it was absolutely obligatory. It was a characteristically foggy but beautiful day as I took a million pictures and we enjoyed the view. With the day going by too quick, we got back in the car and headed into Sausalito.

I seriously think that I might like across the bay even better than the city, and that’s really saying something for me. It has all of the same Northern California vibes but slowed way down – not in a lazy way, but in a relaxed, stress-free sort of way. We walked around, Michael seeing everything for the first time while I reacquainted myself with the area. We got a quick bite and a banana split at Fish & Chips and Lappert’s (both a must) before stopping into a little deli for some sandwiches for later. We put those in the ice chest and headed up toward Muir Woods.

Neither of us had ever been to Muir Woods, and I can’t even begin to explain how beautiful it is. We drove up through the forest covered hills and down onto the other side where we came across Muir Woods Beach. Little did I know, this was the exact place that Michael wanted to take me.

It was absolutely breathe-taking. I don’t think I’ve ever been, nor will ever be, in a place where I felt more at peace. We laid out a tarp and ate our sandwiches, bundled up next to each other while some clouds rolled in. While we were sitting, a group of kids were leaving their bonfire, so Michael ran over and stopped them from putting it out all the way. It was such perfect timing, and Michael spent some time building the fire back up. After he got it burning, we continued to sit and just be for a while. I can’t explain to you how relaxing it was.

While the sun began to go down, Michael suggested we go on a walk. There was a huge hill with steps leading all the way up, so we started hiking to the top. Michael was running ahead of me, looking at the view at every plateau. He finally reached the top and waited for me to catch up. The view was gorgeous – half ocean, half woods, and all incredible. It was my dream view, and Michael knew it. We stood for a while in each other’s arms. Then, watching the sun fall behind the clouds and then the hill in the distance, Michael turned to me and said, “There’s just one more thing.” He got down on one knee, pulled a box from his pocket, and asked if I would marry him.

All of the foresight in the world could not have prepared me for the emotion that I felt at that moment. I’m pretty sure the first words out of my mouth were along the lines of “you’re kidding me” with a few profanities mixed in. My eyes swelled with tears as I quickly said yes after my initial surprised reaction. The moment was perfect – just him and I by ourselves on that gorgeous hill with nothing to worry about except each other. I can’t even begin to explain the happiness I felt and continue to feel.

After standing for a long while, the falling sun gave way to darkness and we raced back down the hill to our fire. Michael popped a bottle of Veuve Clicquot that he had hidden in the bottom of the ice chest earlier that day, and we drank and celebrated with the sound of the ocean as our fire died out. After a long while, we finally gathered our things and headed back into the city.

That next morning was a blur of continued happiness and shock. We went to brunch at Elite Café in Pacific Heights (again – delicious) and spent the rest of our time before our flight walking through that neighborhood and into Cow Hollow. There was nothing more I wanted to do but spend the rest of our time away enjoying the company of my newly appointed fiancé.

All in all, it was a magical trip. If it didn’t happen to me, I would say it was too good to be true. But it did, and I’m still on cloud nine. Like I said, it’s impossible for me to express how much happiness I have at the thought of spending the rest of my days with Michael. With everything that we’ve been through, I know that everything to come can be tackled with him by my side.