28. Floating on Air
Share a hot mocha at Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park’s comparatively intimate Friends & Lovers Balloon Rally Feb. 7–8, where over 135 hot air balloons are poised to alight. (505) 821-1000; http://balloonfiesta.com
27. Top of the World
Red River’s Snow Coach Dinner Tour involves a steep, canoodly Snowcat jaunt up the mountain to the Tip Restaurant, where you tuck into spice-rubbed rib eyes or tequila lime chicken with red chile cream sauce, followed by maple bourbon cheesecake or ancho chile chocolate cake for dessert. Reservations required (575-754-2223; http://redriverskiarea.com/activity/snowcoachdinnertours). Top off your night by two-stepping to live country music at the Motherlode Saloon. (575) 754-6280; on Facebook
26. Affair of the Art
Touch down in Roswell for a day of art appreciation and more: Take in the Hurd & Wyeth: Picturing the Hondo Valley exhibit at Roswell Museum and Art Center (575-624-6744; http://roswellmuseum.org), break for local wine and a cheese-and-fruit tray at Pecos Flavors Winery (575-627-6265; http://pecosflavorswinery.com), or share a Zilla Burger at bighearted Chef Toddzilla Mobile Cuisine (575-840-7260; on Facebook), then continue on to the sprawling, eclectic Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art. (575) 623-5600; http://roswellamoca.org
25. Indie Bookstore Idyll
Wander among the stacks at COAS Books, in Las Cruces (575-524-8471; http://coasbooks.com); Collected Works Bookstore and Café, in Santa Fe (505-988-4226; http://collectedworksbookstore.com); Tome on the Range, in Las Vegas (505-454-9944; http://tomeontherange.com); or Bookworks, in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (505-344-8139; http://bkwrks.com). Follow the latter with a farm-to-table feast at Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm. (505) 344-9297; http://lospoblanos.com
24. Thunder & Lightning
For an indulgent Vegas vibe without the plane ride and all that craziness, book one of the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino’stastefully decorated super suites. The grandly appointed two-story, 2,000-square-foot Governor’s Suite offers multiple bedrooms, living areas, balconies, a gallery’s worth of art, and a soaking tub for two. (877) 455-7775 http://buffalothunderresort.com
23. Las Cruces Eurail Pass
Thanks to the profusion of cosmopolitan options in Las Cruces these days, you can compose an overnight getaway that feels like a whirlwind European tour. Begin by checking in at Hotel Encanto and take full advantage of the resorty amenities at this grand Spanish-tiled property. Grab adjoining lounge chairs at the Mediterranean outdoor heated pool and hot tub area (pictured), and for a nightcap, make the nightclub scene at Azul Ultralounge, with its kicky pop-Italianate furniture. Encanto is offering a Sensuous Romance Package that includes a stay in a pool terrace guest room with a private patio, chocolate-covered strawberries, a chilled bottle of champagne, and a suggestive “love kit.” (575) 522-4300; http://hotelencanto.com
Dine in high style at the Double Eagle, a fine steak restaurant on Mesilla Plaza that’s said to be haunted by the ghosts of two star-crossed lovers. The velvet-flocked wallpaper, gold-leaf Greek Revival mirrors, golden ceiling, imposing oil portraits, and Baccarat chandeliers transport you straight to a château in the Champagne region. (575) 523-6700; http://double-eagle-mesilla.com
For breakfast, enjoy sweet Liège waffles along with a Gouda-and-ham omelet from A Bite of Belgium (575-527-2483; http://abiteofbelgium.com). After a hike in the Organ Mountains, reward yourselves at Zeffiro’s Pizzeria Napoletana (575-525-6770; http://zeffirony.com) or Tiffany’s Pizza & Greek Cuisine (575-532-5002; http://tiffanys-greek.com). You could eat lunch or dinner at St. Clair Winery & Bistro (575-524-2408; http://stclairwinery.com/las-cruces), run by sixth-generation Burgundian winemakers Emanuel and Florent Lescombes. (Have a festive glass of sparkling Kir Imperial.) Or go casual by enjoying an unfiltered hefeweizen made with German Hallertau hops at Spotted Dog Brewery (575-650-2729; http://spotteddogbrewery.com), where you can order from Lorenzo’s Italian Restaurant, which delivers to patrons once an hour. (575) 521-3505; http://lorenzositalian.com
22. Play Time
Chances are you’re due for a night out at the theater in Albuquerque. David Mamet’s not-so-romantic American Buffalo is at Tricklock Theatre Company Feb. 13–March 1 (505-254-8393; http://tricklock.com), and the stormy odd-couple romantic musical The King and I plays at Albuquerque Little Theatre Feb. 27–March 22 (505-242-4750; http://albuquerquelittletheatre.org). Pre-performance, dine on sumptuous Spanish tapas from chef James Campbell Caruso’s MÁS restaurant in one of Hotel Andaluz’s private casbahs; after the curtain call, return to the Moroccan-styled hotel to enjoy a cocktail and spend the night. (505) 242-9090; http://hotelandaluz.com
21. Some Like It Hot
Go mineral springs hopping at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa after you’ve wandered to the mica mines (the trailhead is on the resort property) and chosen a keepsake wedge of the glimmering layered rock to help remember your day. Take a class in the Ojo Yoga Yurt, and, when invited to decide on an intention (perhaps one affirming your relationship?), write it down on a card embedded with wildflower seeds. These cards are planted each spring and bloom in the nearby “intention garden.” A couples massage, a gourmet meal at the resort’s Artesian Restaurant, and a stay at one of the private, luxe Cliffside Suites are turbo–romance boosters. Check their website for winter specials, including 20 percent off lodging for skiers who present a lift ticket. (800) 222-9162; http://ojospa.com
20. Let Your Love Light Shine
Make a meditation date in the Dwan Light Sanctuary, on Montezuma’s United World College campus, near Las Vegas (get a visitor’s pass at the welcome center first; 25 Castle Ln.; http://dwanlightsanctuary.org). The circular structure is embedded with prisms, which project rainbows that glow in the playfully reverent space. Psst: You can also get married there. Stay overnight at the historic Plaza Hotel (the lobby bar is a saloon), on the plaza in Las Vegas. (505) 425-3591; http://plazahotel-nm.com
19. One-Stop Art Lark
Traipse through four museums at Santa Fe’s Museum Hill, where you can feast your eyes on Spanish Colonial, Native, and international folk art. Recharge midday with a delightful lunch for two at Museum Hill Café (their duck flautas rule), or hit it on a Sunday morn for the adored-by-locals brunch. (505) 984-8900; http://museumhillcafe.net
18. Stone Temple Ramble
Wend your way up through winding slot canyons at Cochiti Pueblo’s Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and (weather permitting) top it off with a picnic at the trail’s lofty summit. (505) 331-6259; http://blm.gov
17. T or C Tryst
The Ted Turner–owned Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa’s Romantic Getaway package is fit for a tycoon; it includes a two-night stay, a couples massage, a $200 spa credit, breakfast, and two hot springs soaks (575-894-6976; http://sierragrandelodge.com). Dine at Café Bella Luca, winner of four Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence. (575) 894-9866; http://cafebellaluca.com
16. Higher Ground
For an Only in NM cultural experience, sign up for a tour (on weekends; reservations a must) to elevate yourself and your sweetie to the historic mesa-top Acoma Sky City. A piece of the Pueblo’s trademark pottery from the Sky City Cultural Center would make a distinctive memento. (800) 747-0181; http://acomaskycity.org
15. Craft Beer Dates
Taos Mesa Brewing’s Beyond Thunderdome vernacular architecture partners blazingly with stunning views of the mountains at sunset. In the warmer months, the outdoor amphitheater promotes a mini-music-fest vibe—and all of the flirting that goes with it. This month, enjoy up to a dozen kinds of beer and tasty pub fare along with dancing elicited by live bands, particularly on two-stepping, blues, and swing nights. On February 14, Teatro Serpiente’s Gorilla Romance “live theater sitcom” presents what appears to be a too-realistic-to-be-romantic “cathartic comedy” about seeking love in Taos. That’s followed by a vaudevillian, boundary-pushing Valentine’s burlesque show by local nine-woman troupe The Unstrung Pearls. (575) 758-1900; http://taosmesabrewing.com
Marble Brewery won Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival; its vast downtown Albuquerque pub can serve as your wingman, imbuing you with coolness by association. A rotating cast of food trucks provide hearty urbane nosh. (505) 243-2739; http://marblebrewery.com
Duel Brewing is Santa Fe’s sacred space for Belgian beers and bites; enjoy an Americana band along with your artisanal cheese-and-sausage plate and Bad Amber or Fantin ale. (505) 474-5301; http://duelbrewing.com
14. Fruity, Flaky, Faceted and Far Out
Take a sweet-tooth safari out to Pie Town. Call ahead to confirm that Pie-O-Neer Pies (575-772-2711; http://pieoneer.com) and/or Pie Town Cafe (575-772-2700; http://pietown.com) will be open on the day you have in mind. Bundle this with a stop in Socorro, which is a 90-minute drive east. Scope out mega gems, geodes, and crystals at New Mexico Tech’s Mineralogical Museum (575-835-5140; http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/museum) and eat dinner at the Jetsons-jazzy El Camino Restaurant/El Matador Lounge (how about carne adovada enchiladas?), which is open 24 hours, in case you want to talk until dawn. 707 N. California St.; (505) 835-1180
13. Wild West Romance
The Old West era never ended at Cimarrón’s St. James Hotel. Treat your history buff to a stay at the place where Wyatt Earp, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Annie Oakley each bunked up. Robust and persistent rumors of the property’s ghosts give couples a good excuse to get a little closer. (888) 376-2664; http://exstjames.com
12. Walk of Ages
Walk El Morro National Monument’s Headland Trail to the top of the iconic bluff, and peep into its Ancestral Puebloan ruin, Atsinna. Soak in views of El Malpais’s volcanic craters, the El Morro Valley, and the Zuni Mountains. In winter, call ahead to confirm trail is open (505-783-4226 ext. 801; http://nps.gov/elmo). Just one mile east, savor an organic, locally sourced lunch at Ancient Way Café (505-783-4612; http://elmorro-nm.com) and pick out a keepsake Zuni fetish there or at next-door Inscription Rock Trading and Coffee Co., which also has a vast array of Zuni and Diné jewelry, from delicate petit point rings to hefty squash blossom necklaces. (505) 783-4706; http://inscriptionrocktrading.com
11. Sporty Spice
Mountain-bike through Gallup’s High Desert Trail System (http://galluptrails.com), then hold down the bar with well-earned pints of local beer and burgers at Sammy C’s Rock N’ Sports Pub & Grille, where you can also shoot a flirty game of pool. (505) 863-2220; http://sammycsgallup.com
10. Ruidoso Retreats
Ski Apache offers mood-elevating high-speed Doppelmayr gondola rides all year round. Stay for the weekend at the spacious, Mescalero-Apache-art-adorned Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino, surrounded by stunning alpine and lake views (800-545-9011; http://innofthemountaingods.com). Make yourself at home at a mountain cabin vacation rental (800-545-9017; ruidosoreservations.com) or at the pastoral Hurd-Rinconada Gallery & Guest Homes compound in nearby San Patricio, where paintings by members of the intermarried Wyeth and Hurd families are part of the décor. (800) 658-6912; http://wyethartists.com
9. My Artsy Valentine
The first Thursday of each month (February 5), the National Hispanic Cultural Center hosts Happy Arte Hour, a social, collaborative art-making experience fueled by creativity, a cash bar, and tapas. (505) 246-2261; http://nationalhispaniccenter.org
8. Northwest Stay-Clay
They say traveling tests a couple’s mettle. Stack the deck by harmoniously hitting four states at once at Four Corners, then treat your date to a milkshake at chrome-plated Dad’s Diner in nearby Farmington. 4395 Largo St.; (505) 564-2516
7. Dance the Night Away
Albuquerque’s social dancing opportunities include salsa at Latin Gold Thursdays at Hotel Albuquerque’s Q Bar (free lesson at 8:30 pm)(505-225-5928; http://qbarabq.com); live tango music at QTango Fridays (505-506-1728; http://tangoxchange.com); and Saturday Night Swing Dance at Rhythm Dance Company (Intro to Swing lesson at 7:30 p.m.). (505) 250-6146; http://abqswing.com
6. The Movie Date, Elevated
The Jean Cocteau Cinema (revived by George R. R. Martin) offers pre-show libations from a full bar and popcorn drizzled with real butter. Santa Fe–shot rom-com The Tao of Steve screens Feb. 11, with the director, lead actress, and screenwriter in attendance. The love story Amira & Sam opens Feb. 13. (505) 466-5528; http://jeancocteaucinema.com
5. Love Affair, with Cars
Hit the road for a progressive Route 66 date beginning in Burque: Wake up in a period-furnished vintage Airstream at Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post (800-326-6317; http://enchantedtrails.com) and drive to Santa Rosa for a diner breakfast and a visit to the Route 66 Auto Museum (575-472-1966; http://route66automuseum), then continue to Tucumcari for lunch at Joe’s Back N the Day diner (321 E. Route 66 Blvd.; 575-461-8729). Cruise through classic memento source Tee Pee Curios (575-461-3773; on Facebook) and artifact-rich Tucumcari Historical Museum (http://cityoftucumcari.com/museum; 575-461-4201) and refuel with a steak dinner at family-run Del’s Restaurant (575-461-1740; http://delsrestaurant.com), followed by a vintage movie date at the restored art deco Odeon Theatre (123 S. 2nd St.; 575-461-0100). Stay at the smartly restored, neon-bathed Blue Swallow Motel. (575) 461-9849; http://blueswallowmotel.com
4. Trekkers' Treat
Make tracks at the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski Area (above), then snuggle up in one of the property’s furnished backcountry yurts. (575) 754-6112; http://enchantedforestxc.com
3. O'Keeffe Quest
Begin at 10 am at Santa Fe’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, where Ghost Ranch Views, an exhibition of the artist’s paintings of her favorite place, is on view through March 12 (505-946-1000; http://okmuseum.com). Then jump in the car and drive to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú (with a stop at Bode’s General Store for green chile cheeseburgers). Take Ghost Ranch’s vibrant, winding Kitchen Mesa hike (3–4 hours, 5 miles round-trip) to revel in many of the breathtaking views that inspired O’Keeffe’s paintings (505-685-1000; http://ghostranch.org). Finish with dinner (and an optional overnight stay) at the Abiquiú Inn’s café. (505) 685-4378; http://abiquiuinn.com
2. Taos Tête-à-Tête
After whizzing à deux down Taos Ski Valley’s slopes (575-776-2291; http://skitaos.org), dine in town at the cozy Love Apple, a candlelit white adobe locavore eatery sited in a former chapel (575-751-0050; http://theloveapple.net), and unwind in one of Adobe & Pines Inn‘s spacious, tasteful Southwestern suites. Several feature private hot tubs. In the morning, enjoy a three-course gourmet breakfast in the cheerful main digs. (575) 751-0947; http://adobepines.com
1. Zen-sual Healing
Deliver yourselves to a head-to-toe Japanese delight-fest at Ten Thousand Waves, via Hyde Park Road in Santa Fe. Soak in a private tub, bliss out during side-by-side massages, and then rehydrate and rejuvenate with green tea, sake, and small plates at James Beard–recognized Izanami. Maintain the glow by booking one of the Waves’ 13 cottages, which feature minimalist Zen-chic design and unstinting attention to detail. (505) 982-9304; ;http://tenthousandwaves.com