Something special to do in southern Spain

Have you checked tripadvisor's site for ideas perhaps?

I have not read anything by Rick Steves, who he? ;-) so I would not know what is there. A night time meal in the Albaicin with a view of the Alhambra? Watch flamenco before or after somewhere? I hope all the places you mention are not what you are trying to go to in two weeks.

I like Neil's idea. The restaurants on the Albaicin (in Granada) have a great sunset view of the Alhambra. They are too expensive for my budget, but might make a great splurge. Afterward you can go into Sacramonte for a Sambra performance in one of the caves. There are at least two good options (we went to one that has Maria in the name and enjoyed it). We liked the Sambra performance in Granada more than a Flamenco performance in Seville, primarily because the Sambra was a larger group of performers and we enjoyed the clapping rythms.

My suggestion is similar. There is a hotel on the grounds of the Alhambra and that would be very special.

Thanks, those are great ideas and exactly what I was looking for. I had tried trip advisor, but did not have my options defined enough to get anything I liked. Doing a quick search of restaurants on trip advisor of Albaicin, there any many great ones she will like. I will check out Sacramonte also. Thanks again and any additional ideas still welcome.

There are two hotels on the grounds of the Alhambra, the very nice and very expensive Parador, and the small family-run Hotel America.

I agree with the other posters.....an evening at Alhambra would be very special and leave your wife with a wonderful memory.

We visited Spain last year to celebrate both our birthdays. Our whole time at the Alhambra, spread over 3 days, was memorable and would definitely be a highlight. There is nothing like it anywhere. We spend one hinght at Hotel America inside the Alhambra, with dinner (more like snacks/tapas) on the terrace at the Parador. Hotel Merica was small and charming, but may not be your idea of a splurge hotel. Our room, up a tight spiral staircase, overlooked the nive-covered patio where we enjoyed two lunches (food was great). We also spent 2 nights at Carmen de Alcubilla de Caracol, up on the Alhmabra hill but outside the walls. We loved this place-lovely modern room and furnishings, very private, nice patio area. some people on Tripadvisor criticize the management style but we enjoyed Manuel and the care with which he runs the place. Off the Alhambra hill there are some lovely hotels in Moorish buildings, such as Casa Morisco. Ladron de Agua, etc. Lots of nice choices. Once you choose your lodging, consider any or all of the following to make the Alhambra experience; dinner at a carmen with view of the alhmabra at sunset, possibly a night visit to the Nasrid palaces (better if you are staying up on the Alhambra hill and don't have to return to town late), a general day visit to the Alhambra, and/or one of the walking tours described as "Tour of the Landscape and Urban Environment " or Visita Entorno in spanish. These are 5-hour walking tours, in English, with a very informative guide. They do a different one each day of the week, and all include some "backstage" areas not generally open to the public. We did the "Conquest of Water" and it was fascinating. The tour ended at the Arab bath in town, after which we walked the Paseo de los Tristes along the river Darro to a square filled with outdoor restaurants (in the shade of an overhead trellis) for our lunch.