Berkeley Springs is a love machine! What else can you say about a tiny place that has three times as many massage therapists as lawyers and as many outstanding restaurants as any hot block in Manhattan. Since V-Day is on a Tuesday and the weekend after is all about our favorite celebrity tourist, George Washington, we're talking about love now.

Before we launch into all the Valentine's weekend and Valentine's Day specials, let's cover a few other special events.

On Saturday at 9pm, the Troubadour Lounge introduces the area to Band-A-N-A playing music for country dancing. Fun at the Star Theatre this weekend is courtesy of Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" with showings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at 8pm.

There's a unique workshop happening at Cacapon State Park: 5th Annual 18th Century Surveying & Cartography School which is open to the public with registration. https://www.armygeographer.org/schedule/event-registration

Since we're at Cacapon State Park, let's start with their love machine activities. Take a Sweetheart's Escape complete with lodging, meals, entertainment and miles of mountain hiking trails. On Valentine's Day itself, they offer a special filet and crabcake dinner. Wild things may choose the Gator Tail special at Angus and Ale which is tender alligator meat coated with house seasonings, fried and served with six pepper ranch.

If Victorian elegance and a lighted Valentine Tree is more to your taste, choose the six-course, silver service, one 7pm seating Hearts Aglow dinner at Highlawn Inn with quail, salmon, delectable dessert choices and complimentary Fisher Ridge wines. Reservations are essential.

There's some rocking fun at the American Legion on Saturday at 8pm with a Valentine's Dance featuring classic rock from The Stereo Spacecraft and Potomac Sound.

Stroll around town and visit all our cool shops searching for that perfect romantic gift. Look through thousands of items at our two antique malls and several shops as well as original local and American art at several locations including the Ice House Co-op Gallery, Mountain Laurel Gallery and Heath Studio Gallery. Nature Niche is offering free Valentine gift wrapping everyday from now through 5pm on Valentine's Day. You can also print a discount coupon from their website for one item to use when you visit through February 15.

Tari's Premier Cafe is offering their famous Seafood Lovers for 2 special on Valentine's Day with complimentary champagne and delectable dessert. Lot 12 is open on Tuesday (a rare event) for a fabulous three-course dinner complete with rose petals and other romantic trimmings. There are two seatings. Reservations are recommended for both places.

What can be more romantic than shared spa treatments. The Bath House Day Spa has a couples massage. Atasia Spa offers an herbal steam room, massage, whirlpool tubs for two and facials for both men and women. The Historic Roman Bath House is the ideal place to bathe together in a private, 750 gallon step-down into tub filled with hot mineral waters from the springs. The Country Inn's Five Senses Spa has elegant pink whirlpool tubs big enough for two and a fabulous overlook view of the park and town.

Several lodging places are adding sweetener to the weekend with special packages. Berkeley Springs Best Western has a special package this weekend that includes a discount on the room plus a dinner certificate at Angus and Ale, champagne and sweets. Another Pampering Package includes pedicure and manicure. At Highlawn Inn, you can choose from several packages that come with dinner coupons to Tari's Cafe and spas treatments at Atasia. Check all our lodging places for the ideal romantic setting whether that means a fabulous breakfast, wood stoves or in-room whirlpool tubs.

(Information courtesy of Travel Berkeley Springs)