Mark Perry, CHT

El Farol prides itself in always celebrating the spirit of Santa Fe. The full-service menu at this excellent restaurant includes an impressive selection of tapas and full entrees. There is also live music every night, performed by some of the area's best blues and Latin performers, making it an ideal stop on the nightlife scene. Also, check the schedule for the immensely popular flamenco shows.

The Native American role in Santa Fe's rich history is a significant one, and that fact is celebrated every May with the Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival. Shop for beautiful jewelry and other one-of-a-kind pieces made by more than 180 established and emerging artists from the Native American pueblos and tribes. The proceeds from the event benefit the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Add some sizzle to your romance when the two of you take classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. There's nothing like taking on a project together, and both of you will learn how to create different types of meals (that include several Mexican dishes). You'll find that spending time together creating a delicious project that you both can enjoy when it's done will create special, romantic (and sometimes humorous) moments that you will never forget.

The Santa Fe National Forest is situated on a staggering 1.6 million acres at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Nature lovers find that there is plenty to admire about this outdoor oasis, not the least of which are the diverse ecosystems that give life to a large variety of fish, animals, and various species of birds. This particular site is one of five national forests in New Mexico and features some of the finest mountain scenery in the country, if not the world!