As the song says, Texas, our Texas, is "wide and glorious" -- so wide that it can be tough to take in all that glory from ground level. To really hail the mighty state, take to the prairie sky at the 750-foot Tower of the Americas, where $11 buys admission for two to Flags Over Texas Observation Deck and the Skies over Texas 4D Theater experience (a $22 value). The soaring centerpiece of the San Antonio skyline offers panoramic views of the heart of our state from a lofty, glass-enclosed observation area. Take your time on telescopes and photos -- then hold onto your theater seat for a theater thrill ride across the Lone Star state, from Friday night football lights to the NASA labs. When folks ask how this deal was, you can start with "so wonderful, so great."

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Roomy Cabins and Outdoor Recreation on Bluff Overlooking Lake Whitney

Lake Whitney was created to ease drought conditions in the early 1950s, but the reservoir quickly evolved into a popular vacation spot and was even the site of the very first bass-fishing tournament. Perched directly above Lake Whitney on a limestone bluff, Redwood Lodge was one of the lake's earliest retreats and is said to have once hosted movie cowboy Roy Rogers. The resort has expanded to more than 20 log cabins, but still maintains a rustic charm.

Most of the two- and three-bed cabins have cozy decor-from quilted bedding to knotted-wood walls-and many of boast views of Lake Whitney. But for all their rustic charm, the cabins still offer modern amenities such as free WiFi and cable TV.

You can exchange your resort credit for a paddleboat or sailboat rental and head out on the lake to shoot scenes for the Waterworld sequel. Back at the lodge, there's a fleet of rental mountain bikes tuned up and ready for the trail. Whether your day is full of activity or delightfully lazy, there are few better ways to top it off than with a dip in the hot tub and a session around the fire pit. At the Tiki Light Bar, weekly events include late-night dancing and open-mike nights, and the restaurant (open Thursday-Sunday) serves basics such as hamburgers ($4.99) and pizzas ($12-$15).

Whitney, Texas: Lakeside Town with Old-Fashioned Charm

The small city of Whitney, about 85 miles south of Dallas, is often referred to as "The Getaway Capital of Texas." But long before vacationers flocked to the area, Bonnie and Clyde were said to have frequented the town. Bank robberies are a thing of the past, but thankfully, Whitney has retained its old-school, small-town feel. In the quaint downtown area, you'll find several antique stores and an old-fashioned ice-cream shop.

Many of Whitney's visitors come for the massive lake, crisscrossed on the weekends by sailboats, bass boats, and jet skis. Lake Whitney is known for its bass fishing and also has plenty of flat, open water for skiing a handful of sandy beaches. There are about a dozen public parks around the lake, including Lake Whitney State Park, which boasts hiking trails, picnic areas, and a population of nearly 200 bird species.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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French Quarter-Inspired Inn with Onsite Restaurant

Though it's in the heart of Texas Hill Country, Crescent Quarters channels New Orleans, the Crescent City, in both name and design. The hotel exudes French Quarter charm, from its wrought-iron balconies to the hanging planters and gas lanterns. N'awlins also inspired some of the guest rooms, including one decorated with the famous Blue Dog paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue and another furnished in festive Mardi Gras purples and golds.

The rest of the rooms and suites carry out much different motifs. The Far East room features Buddhist images against bamboo-covered walls, and the French room channels continental elegance with a fireplace, French boudoir, and life-size cardboard cutout of Napoleon Bonaparte. Some rooms come with other chic touches such as granite vanities and polished hardwood floors, and the two suites come furnished with hot tubs.

Complimentary breakfast is served every morning in the common room. For lunch and dinner, head to the in-house restaurant, Cypress Grille and Wine Bar, run by chefs who trained at the Culinary Institute of America and Le Cordon Bleu. The casual eatery serves comfort-food favorites with creative twists, such as dried-fruit ravioli and smoked barbecue pork sandwiches with grilled pineapple. As a bonus, Cypress Grille and Wine Bar will give Groupon customers a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entree.

Boerne, Texas: Historic German Town in Texas Hill Country

A popular summer escape for Austinites and San Antonians, the Hill Country of west-central Texas usually enjoys cooler temperatures than surrounding areas thanks to its higher elevation. Among the region's towns, Boerne stands out for its unique history as an early 19th-century German settlement. Some vestiges of the old days are still around, including the bilingual, German-style street signs. Crescent Quarters overlooks Boerne's Main Street-or Hauptstrasse-which features a smattering of shops and restaurants that cater to the influx of out-of-towners that use the town as a convenient home base for exploring the Hill Country.

Boerne is also home to a few limestone caves that have been paved through with walkways and lights for public tours. Cascade Caverns, 4 miles from the inn, features a half-mile stretch of stalactite and stalagmite formations and plunging caves inhabited by a rare and endangered salamander. Tours of the caverns lead through narrow passageways and end with a view of a 100-foot waterfall cascading into a pitch-black pool.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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Without the promise of sweets, mouths would never have the patience to stay open during dentist's appointments or closed during beekeeping demonstrations. Keep mouths copacetic with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $7 for $15 worth of cheesecakes, layer cakes, cookies, and other desserts $14 for $30 worth of cheesecakes, layer cakes, cookies, and other desserts

The menu includes items such as layer cakes ($22+) and more than 30 flavors of cheesecake ($14+ for a medium), such as Oreo and cherry.

The Ultimate Cheesecake Bakery

In 1982, Jeanne and Mark Samii could barely squeeze their old-fashioned cheesecakes into a 300-square-foot bakery. These days, they need a 25,000-square-foot factory to craft a sprawling menu of cheesecakes, tortes, and pies. More than 30 varieties of cheesecake-including key lime, amaretto almond, and fudge marble-pair sweetness with smooth textures, like a saxophone that emanates unsolicited compliments. Available with two or three stories of batter-based bricks, layer cakes showcase gourmet ingredients such as mascarpone cheese and dark-chocolate ganache. The bakery also peddles creamy, sugar-free cheesecakes, towering wedding cakes, and snack-size treats such as cookies and brownies.

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Dust off your d20s and take your cape to the cleaners -- it's time for Comicpalooza. You don't need superpowers to get in, either: Today, get one adult three-day pass with a T-shirt, limited edition print, and two passes to the Permanent Exhibit Hall at the Museum of Natural Science for $45 (a $100 value). From May 25 to 27, the George R. Brown Convention Center will showcase the latest and greatest in the world of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, video and tabletop gaming, anime, music, and film, while offering a chance to meet a slew of your favorite geek-culture celebs, like Kevin Sorbo and George Takei. If you've got a whole fam of fans in tow, pay $59 for two adult and two children's tickets for entry on Sunday, May 27, plus two T-shirts and two passes to the permanent exhibit hall at HMNS (a $150 value). Both options include 40% to 60% off additional HMNS tickets, so you can keep feeding your brain after the event is done. Set your phaser to "buy" for a weekend in comic paradise. Want more? Check out Comicpalooza on Facebook.

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Spacious Suites on Historic WWII Air Base in the Heart of Scottsdale

Between 1942 and 1945, young WWII pilots took off and landed more than 600,000 times on the runways of the Thunderbird II Air Base, situated in the desert outside of Phoenix. Today, jetsetters of a different kind frequent the historic base, which has been repurposed as the Scottsdale Municipal Airport. The base also contains the Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, a four-story, tawny stucco hotel. Soaring ceilings and thick oriental rugs welcome visitors at the grand entrance area, and there are nods to the property's aviation history throughout the hotel.

Considering its proximity to the runway, each of the hotel's standard suites is rather quiet. That's because each room has been soundproofed with thick concrete walls to reduce the sound of engines and the cries of babies that want their pilot's license 16 years ahead of schedule. All of the spacious suites include a living room and separate bedroom, as well as new, cushy couches and chairs to lend the room homey feel.

Before heading off to bed, stop by the lounge next to the Silver Wings Restaurant to grab a nightcap and browse the hotel's WWII aviation memorabilia. Among the relics are photographs of pilots and a table crafted from an aircraft rotary-cylinder-engine top. In the morning, guests can fill up on eggs, bacon, pastries, and steaming coffee at the complimentary hot breakfast buffet.

Scottsdale, Arizona: High-End Shopping in the "The West's Most Western Town"

Situated slightly northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale was once a vast ranch lands lined with citrus farms and cowboy settlements, earning it the nickname of "The West's Most Western Town." Today, the lush desert oasis is studded with glittering outdoor fountains, emerald-green golf courses, and an active nightlife scene.

For many vacationers, "sightseeing" in Scottsdale translates to "window-shopping." A few steps from the hotel, wander past palm trees to find designer stores such as Cartier and Anthropologie. A few minutes away is the charming and quaint Old Town Scottsdale, where brick buildings offer a glimpse into how the town earned its "Most Western" moniker. Stroll down its winding streets to find art galleries, a mammoth used bookstore, and public sculptures on nearly every corner.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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In Hollywood, close-ups are reserved for actors with either striking good looks or rectangular heads with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Boost your screen worthiness with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $19 for three eyebrow and upper-lip threading sessions (a $45 value) $19 for one full-face threading (a $40 value)

Highbrow Eyebrow & Facial Spa

Though the artisans at Highbrow Eyebrow & Facial Spa specialize in the ancient Eastern arts of threading and henna, the salon features a full range of modern spa services to tend to clients' every aesthetic need. Technicians efficiently remove hair from both faces and bodies using a choice of warm wax or deftly looped cotton thread, depending on the desired precision and whether the area also needs to be hemmed. Intricate henna applications help patrons show off their newly smooth skin, while refining facials and enzyme peels restore youthful elan to mugs suffering from dullness or uneven texture.

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You may still be picking fiesta confetti out of your clothes, but Memorial Day weekend on Padre Island is right around the corner. Rather than burying your not-so-pretty piggies in the sand, get a foothold in today's deal from McRae M.D. Medical Laser Spa: For $289, receive a laser nail fungus treatment for up to five toes on the same foot (regularly $687); or for $499, receive treatment on all ten toes (regularly $1,375). Each of these half-hour sessions includes both an initial consultation and a post-treatment visit. During the painless procedure, a laser is applied to the nail and surrounding skin to eradicate fungus within the nail bed and plate, rejuvenating your tootsies to their original clean and healthy glow. With no post-procedure downtime, get ready to head right toe-ward the beach. Want more? Check out McRae M.D. Medical Laser Spa on Facebook.

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Although receiving one's just deserts can be unpleasant, eating a meal of just desserts is the only way to consume the FDA's recommended daily allowance of frosting. Ensure graduates meet their nutritional needs with this Groupon.

$20 for $40 Worth of Custom Graduation Cakes

Award-winning baker Yolanda Amaya conjures architecturally stunning graduation cakes ($25-$150) in an assortment of 23 flavors, including red velvet, chocolate, and strawberry swirl. View a gallery of her graduation-cake designs.

Yolanda's Specialty Cakes

The pink banner that curls around the façade of Yolanda's Specialty Cakes calls to mind the creamy fondant streaks that grace many of the eponymous owner's specialty confections. Though Yolanda Amaya has been perfecting her craft since 1977, many locals are just beginning to hop on her train of sweet treats thanks to readers of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, who voted her shop the Best of the Best in 2010. On-hand consultants help brides- and grooms-to-be select the perfect theme for their wedding cake, and decorators spell out birthday greetings with swirls of icing. Yolanda and her bakers sculpt cakes into a variety of shapes and styles, from tiered towers to wearable quinceañera dresses.

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Before cameras, people seeking to leave a legacy could only hope to secure their place in future textbooks by poisoning the emperor. Avoid being a mere footnote with this Groupon.

$99 for High-School Seniors Photo Package ($400 Value)

Clients should arrive at shoots with clean hair and minimal makeup for their consultation and photo-shoot prep, which consists of hairstyling and an airbrush makeover. During the ensuing one-hour shoot, clients pose armed with props and two or three outfits they have brought from home. The total experience lasts two to three hours and proofs will be immediately available for viewing. It includes:

Retouching for two images For each retouched image: one 8"x10" print, two 5"x7" prints, and eight wallets One image on CD, with copyright release

Glamour Shots

Glamour Shots specializes in complete photography sessions in which subjects receive makeovers and in-depth consultations on their shoots to help their best face to shine in front of the camera. Upon arriving at the studio, subjects undergo hairstyling and an airbrush makeup application before donning a series of their own outfits during boudoir or traditional photo shoots. Image designers can retouch snapshots afterward, and client favorites can shine in lab-produced prints or on digital CDs.

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Biologists estimate that water makes up 65 percent of the human body, 71 percent of the planet's surface, and 0 percent of the R & B group Earth, Wind & Fire. Conquer the planet's most prevalent liquid with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $10 for a 60-minute Try Scuba class (a $25 value) $39 for an Intro to Diving course (a $79.95 value)

The 60-minute Try Scuba introductory class shepherds novice divers through the basics of scuba under the direction of an SSI dive professional. Students spend most of the class submerged in a comfortably heated pool, though sessions begin with predive training on land.

For the comprehensive Intro to Diving Course, students fill up on aquatic knowledge-such as how to perform a predive safety check and how to perform a postdive triple lutz-during three academic sessions, then cycle through snorkeling and scuba skills during one extended pool session. Throughout the course, instructors impart expert aquatic training that counts toward students' open-water dive certification.

Ascuba Venture

Ascuba Venture, a quarter-century-old diving school, rears expert aquanauts using the SSI signature water-training method, an entry-level system whose open-water diving certification is recognized internationally. Through academic, open-water, and pool sessions, students absorb beginning to advanced scuba and snorkeling skills, as well as vital safety fundamentals that include avoiding eye contact with hostile flushed goldfish. Heated to 82¬-84 degrees, Ascuba's indoor pool comfortably cradles amateur divers, who are clad in safe and modern equipment provided by the facility.

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