Whether you've been together one month or fifty years, whether you'd rather be active or pampered, you'll find the ideal romantic getaway in New Mexico.
Hot Springs:
You and your loved one slip into a private pool. Hot water envelops you, cocooning you both in its healing, relaxing wonder. Perhaps you sit in companionable silence as you watch clouds float across the moon and stars. Or perhaps you enjoy an intimate conversation. With no one else around, the world seems yours, and yours alone.
Or do you and you partner prefer the company of other like-minded people? Then join others in a public pool. Relax in the heated mineral water as you meet people from all over the United States and Europe. Engage in lively discussions as you make new friends in this warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Whatever your preference, with over fifty hot springs throughout New Mexico, there is one that is right for you. There are hot springs that are consistently over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, others that are sometimes cooled by flooding river waters. There are hot springs where swimsuits are required, and others that are clothing optional. Children are allowed in many of them, but others are adult only.
Do you and your partner enjoy hiking? Some of New Mexico's hot springs can be found at the end of a beautiful hike. Trails may be as short as one half mile, or as long as eighteen miles. Many of these pools are free.
Do you and your loved one want to be pampered? Then perhaps one of the many spas and resorts is for you. Many of these offer both private and public hot springs, along with massage, facials, and other "spa packages." Fees for this type of hot springs experience vary.
SCUBA Diving:
SCUBA diving is probably not the first thing you think of when you imagine vacationing in New Mexico, but this desert state is home to one of the clearest diving holes in the world: Blue Hole.
Blue Hole in Santa Rosa is New Mexico's most popular diving spot. The crystal clear artesian well is sixty feet across at its surface, and widens to 130 feet before reaching its eighty-one foot depth. Although there is not much plant life, divers can view carp, crawdads, and each other. If you bring an underwater camera, you may be able to convince one of the other divers to snap a photo of you and your loved one, without worrying about silt or seaweed obscuring the shot.
One of the favorite things about this dive hole is its constant temperature. Whether you visit in August or in February, Blue Hole will be sixty-one degrees Fahrenheit. The water comes from a spring, the opening of which is blocked to prevent inexperienced divers from becoming trapped in its underground caverns. The natural spring keeps the temperature constant and the water level high.
Santa Rosa is also home to another popular dive site: Perch Lake. Perch Lake does not have the temperature consistency of Blue Hole. In winter the water temperature hovers in the mid-40s, in summer it ranges from high 60s to low 70s. Since it is a lake, visibility is not as great as Blue Hole's. Perch Lake, though, has a twin-engine plane at a depth of thirty feet. This is a great experience to share with someone you love.
Hot Air Balloons:
You and your loved one are soaring above the Rio Grande River. You look out from the gondola and see the Sandia Mountains, Albuquerque, and over 700 other hot air balloons. It is a breathtaking display of colors, and the two of you are part of it. You squeeze each other's hands, awed by the magnificence, knowing this is something you'll remember for the rest of your lives.
Of course, you can choose to take a hot air balloon ride at other times of the year, but it is only in early October, during the weeklong Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, that you can share the air with hundreds of other balloons.
This is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. Balloonists come from all over the world to participate, and spectators add to the crowds. The atmosphere is fair-like, with vendors, musicians, and strolling entertainers. There are picnic tables, but not many. You may prefer to bring a blanket and have a romantic picnic on the grass, surrounded by hundreds of brightly colored hot air balloons.
Lava Trail:
A coyote howls in the distance. A breeze whistles through shadows of plants. A small night creature rustles the brush at the side of the trail. There are no other sounds but the swish of footsteps. The splendor of the desert night is ideal for reflection on how much you mean to each other as you and your loved one allow the amazing history of the Anasazi villages to enfold you on the Frijoles Canyon Trail silent-night tour.
Of course, Frijoles Canyon can be traversed during the day, as well. There are two main trails: Frijoles Canyon Trail, and Falls Trail. On Frijoles Canyon trail you will experience the wonder of Anasazi ruins, villages carved out of cliff walls and volcanic rock. Many of the structures are open to exploration. Transport yourselves back to a time before Europeans had found this desert.
When you walk Falls Trail you will experience the passion and romance of its two high waterfalls. But the waterfalls are only part of the panorama that makes up this trail. You'll see natural volcanic sculptures and startling changes in plant life. If you and your loved one watch closely, you'll see deer, lizards sunning themselves, and a multitude of colorfully vibrant birds.
Snow:
New Mexico is known for its desert vistas, but it also offers world-class snow sports. For those couples who downhill ski, there are seven different ski areas. Six of these are centered around Taos and Santa Fe, one is located approximately midway between Albuquerque, NM and El Paso, TX. Most of these ski areas allow snow boarding, as well.
For those couples who don't snowboard or ski the slopes, there are plenty of other ways to play in the snow. There are many trails that are perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, and the equipment is easy to rent. Join a guided tour, or take off on a romantic trek with just each other for company. Or, if speed is more your style, try a snowmobile tour near Taos.
If you're looking for something else, but still want to play in the snow, try tubing or sledding. You and your partner can cuddle together as you whisk down the snow covered mountainside. Snowbikes - like bicycles, but with skis instead of wheels - are available at some ski resorts. You can get lessons when you rent your bikes.
After you've spent a long day playing in the cold and snow, find an intimate spot for a hot drink and a long snuggle.
New Mexico. Desert beauty. Ancient people. Snowy playground. A perfect getaway for any couple.
