If you’re still trying to plan the perfect date or weekend getaway for you and your honey, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of some of the most romantic places we’ve visited over the years, and you won’t want to miss ‘em. To see our visit to each location, click on the title or picture!
1. Chinati Hot Springs (Ruidosa, Texas)
If you’re looking for a place to relax and unwind with your Valentine this weekend, Chinati Hot Springs is the place for you. The resort is located off FM 2810 near Marfa, and despite its desirable remedial qualities, it remains secluded and intimate. Caretaker, Diane Burbach, promises “no traffic, no trains, no planes … nothing but the wildlife”.
Truly an oasis in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert, the bubbling waters of the spring come out of the earth at 110 degrees soaked with healing minerals like arsenic and lithium. The resort offers a fully stocked kitchen, overnight accommodations, and some incredibly scenic views of the Chinati Peaks. After just a few hours in this all-natural hot tub, you’re sure to feel cured of all of life’s aches and pains!
2. Janie’s Record Shop (San Antonio, Texas)
For many, music is the language of love, so if you’re going to find yourself in San Antonio this weekend, we have the place for you! Janie’s Record Shop is a quaint store that sells music the old-fashioned way, that’s right, in classic vinyl form. Janie herself runs the store with her youngest son Robert, and together they work to preserve the timeless music medium.
At Janie’s, they sell the greats from every era and embrace the nostalgic value of music for their guests. “Everyone that comes in here to buy something, they have a story, and that’s what’s amazing,” Robert said. “I love what I do.”
Just like love, good music never goes out of style.
3. Val Verde Winery (Del Rio, Texas)
There’s no better way to celebrate true love than with a glass of wine in a place that’s already withstood the test of time. Lucky for you, hidden deep the fertile soil of Val Verde Country, just a few miles from Mexico, is Val Verde Winery.
This vineyard’s roots were planted all the way back in 1883, making it the oldest winery in the Lone Star State and the 9th oldest in the entire country. Currently running the place is Thomas Qualia, the third generation to take over this family business. He claims that running the winery is “a labor of love”, but just like in romance, the hard work pays off.
4. Gage Hotel (Marathon, Texas)
There’s nothing like the beauty and majesty of west Texas. With its expansive landscapes, more stars than most see in a lifetime, and stories of the old wild west, traveling to this part of our state is a must stop on any bucket list, but especially a Valentine’s Day one.
Marathon is a charming town about 140 miles southwest of Odessa, and in the heart of it is the charming Gage Hotel. Restored to its former 1920’s glory, the hotel is the perfect place to stay on a romantic getaway with your Valentine!
5. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (Tomball, Texas)
Nothing says “I love you” like house made chocolate, but pair that with some good old Texas barbecue, and you’re ready to rock this Valentine’s Day. In Tomball, Texas you’ll find Tejas BBQ, a chocolate-shop-turned-barbecue-joint that truly does it all.
Having won Season 11’s Bite of the Season award, this shop has some of the tastiest culinary confections we’ve ever tried, and if you don’t have plans this weekend, we highly recommend you pay them a visit. Because when the question is dinner or dessert, the best answer is always “why not both”.
6. Lee’s Daffodil Garden (Gladewater, Texas)
During the month of February, the trees are still waking from their winter slumber in northeast Texas, but we know of a garden that springs into action a little earlier than others, and it’s called Mrs. Lee’s Daffodil Garden.
During most of the year the garden looks like your typical east Texas terrain, but for a few weeks in February, as if just for Valentine’s Day, the beautiful daffodils bloom in a colorful and dynamic display. Visitor Dennis Phelps said, “if I could pick my dream, I’d pick this one”, and we think you and your sweetheart will agree!
7. Basecamp Terlingua (Terlingua, Texas)
The Big Bend is one of the most remote and remarkable regions of the Lone Star State. The natural, God-given beauty surrounding this desolate area draws people from all over the globe, and when they arrive they want to stay a while. Enter: Basecamp Terlingua.
This camp site offers some amazing facilities from which to enjoy the great outdoors. Their most romantic option is their unique “bubble rooms”, or clear, plastic units that allow you to stargaze from the comfort of your own room and fall asleep under the stars. If you and your Valentine want to enjoy the beauty of Big Bend from the coziness of your own bed this weekend, Terlingua Basecamp is the place for you!
8. Messina Hof (College Station, Texas)
No matter what quarter of the state you go to, Texans are always willing to raise a glass to their favorite vino, especially on Valentine’s Day, and there’s no better place in the Brazos Valley to do it than at Messina Hof winery. With beautiful trails to stroll through the vineyards and ½ price flights on Fridays, this is the perfect destination for you and your Valentine, or whoever you’re spending the day with!
9. Hotel Paisano (Marfa, Texas)
Along the city streets of Marfa, every sunset seems to tell a story. Surrounded with so much history, it’s hard to pick a specific place to put yourself back in time – that is, until you come across Hotel Paisano, a place with nearly 100 years of history with a connection to Hollywood lore.
It was the summer of 1955 when some of the biggest stars of yesteryear walked the halls of the elegant hotel while filming the movie classic, Giant. To this day you can still stay in rooms once inhabited by James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor, and what better way to celebrate love than to stay in the very hotel where some of Hollywood’s most infamous heartthrobs once laid their heads?
10. Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles (South Padre Island)
The sands of South Padre Island are always a stupendous stop, but when you’re down on the island it doesn’t all have to be about the sand and surf. If you’re up for something that will get you out of your shell, situated smack dab on the center of South Padre is Sea Turtle, Inc.
Throughout the year, injured sea turtles make their way to Sea Turtle, Inc. via volunteers and regular folks who come across turtles in a tight spot along Texas beaches.
If you love animals and the beach, this could be the perfect stop for a romantic weekend getaway!
Well, I hope this list helps you plan the perfect surprise for your Valentine this year! And as always, we’ll see you this weekend on The Texas Bucket List.