Historical Hotel and Spa Overlooking San Francisco Bay

The Claremont Hotel & Spa-a historical, AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel-overlooks the San Francisco Bay from a perch atop the Claremont Canyon. During the California gold rush, a private, English-style castle stood on the property. But after the castle burned down, real estate tycoon Frank Havens won the land in a game of checkers, and in 1915, he opened the sprawling Mediterranean-style resort that still stands today.

Of the many improvements made to the hotel over the years, none shine as brightly as the Spa Claremont, a 20,000-square-foot facility dubbed the Top U.S. Urban Spa by Vogue magazine. Beyond offering standard therapeutics such as facials and massages, the spa's staff administers body treatments, acupuncture, and water therapy, a means of relieving stress by wielding a seltzer bottle à la the Three Stooges. At the hotel's fitness center, 60 exercise classes are scheduled every week. There are 10 tennis courts onsite and a number of swimming pools, whirlpools, hot tubs, and saunas.

Three restaurants provide a range of fine-dining options. The landmark Meritage at the Claremont, a farm-to-table affair, serves dishes such as the Sonoma goat-cheese-potato terrine beneath a two-story ceiling while diners gaze out onto the bay. The more casual Paragon Restaurant-an American brasserie-offers hand-shaken cocktails, live jazz on the weekends, and outdoor deck seating. The Bayview Cafe serves up light fare poolside. Upstairs, the hotel's Distinctive Bay View rooms have been newly renovated so that no two are exactly alike.

Berkeley, California: Eclectic College Town Full of Art, History, and Culture

The Claremont Hotel & Spa stands just a few minutes from the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, home to some 36,000 students and a still-thriving activist spirit. Lined with cafes and smoke shops, colorful Telegraph Avenue bustles with scholars, bohemians, and vendors hawking tie-dyed graduation gowns.

World-famous musicians and actors take the stage at Hertz and Zellerbach Halls and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and plenty of bars and restaurants along Shattuck Avenue pour microbrews and serve farm-to-table cuisine. Wandering Berkeley's residential neighborhoods can be a charming diversion in the spring and summer, when tangled gardens spill over onto tree-lined sidewalks.

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

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Explorer Ponce de León abandoned his quest to discover the mythical land of wine after a tumble into the Fountain of Youth left him eternally underage. Take up his journey with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $7 for two sandwiches and two fountain drinks (up to a $15.20 value)
$12 for two sandwiches and two glasses of wine (up to a $24.88 value)
$24 for four sandwiches and four glasses of wine (up to a $49.76 value)

Sandwiches such as chicken salad ($5.95), roast beef ($6.45), avocado ($5.25), and liverwurst ($4.75) are served on bread from Max's Artisan Bakery. See the full menu here. Wines ($5.99 per glass) range from pinot noirs, cabernets, and chardonnays from California to imports from around the globe.

The Grape Tray

Experts in all things wine, The Grape Tray's staff can help patrons choose their ideal wine while sampling vintages from vineyards such as Silver Oak, Chateau Lynch-Bages, and Sleepy Hollow. A roster of dessert and sparkling wines rounds out the corked collection, which includes selections from popular spots like France and Spain as well as lesser-known wine-producers, including New Zealand and Austria. The Grape Tray's staffers also craft tasty sandwiches from its deli counter, piling corned beef, vegetable medleys, and crab and chicken salad between slices of bread from nearby bakeries.

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Sumptuous Accommodations amid Mountain Terrain

The Resort at Squaw Creek's golf course looks out over lush prairies and mountainsides covered in pine trees. It's a gorgeous scene in sunny weather, but summer is technically off-season here. In the distance, you can see the six peaks of Squaw Valley USA, a sort of Shangri-La that served as the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. When the landscape is blanketed with snow, the mountains are dotted with skiers and snowboarders. The golf course is transformed for the season into the Nordic Center, leaving it crisscrossed with tracks left by dogsleds, cross-country skis, and snowshoes.

Whatever the season, The Resort at Squaw Creek serves as a convenient home base from which to enjoy the outdoors; it's tucked into the Sierra Nevada on Lake Tahoe's north shore. Hiking trails wind through the property, and on hand you'll find a private outdoor ice rink and an onsite fly-fishing center. Guests can also feel free to stop by the outdoor pool complex's plunge pool and 120-foot water slide and choreograph water ballets in its heated lap pool and three hot tubs.

Six Peaks Grille, one of the resort's four dining venues, serves up breakfasts of fresh fruit, lox, and a goldmine of pastries kept warm in white linens. The breakfast buffet allows you to load up on made-to-order omelets, bacon, french toast, and pancakes.

The resort's 405 rooms and suites underwent a $53 million renovation in recent years. The deluxe forest-view room has a marble shower and a grand picture window that overlooks Tahoe National Forest. In fact, the entire guest tower-where all the rooms are located-is sheathed in lustrous black glass to maximize views of the valley.

Squaw Valley USA: Hiking and Cycling Through Mountains on Lake Tahoe's North Shore

Located about a 15-minute drive from North Lake Tahoe, Squaw Creek is situated amid some of northern California's most revered scenery and varied terrain. The resort rents out bicycles by the hour, including Marin cruisers for adults, Trek mountain bikes for kids, and tagalong carts for infants and beloved pet rocks. Use these to hop on Truckee River Trail, a gently rolling, paved path that follows a crystal-clear river 7 miles to Tahoe City. There, you'll happen upon a paved trail with views of the Lake of the Sky and access to Tahoe Vista's beaches 10 miles to the north.

Lupine and buckwheat paint the mountainside, and the High Camp here is a nice jumping-off point to hike on some dry, pebbly trails. If you're unaccustomed to the high altitude, you may find yourself easily winded on even short hikes; still, the 1.5-mile jaunt uphill to Emigrant Peak is worth the trip, as you get 360-degree views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.

Quaint clapboard buildings housing shops and restaurants line the Village at Squaw Valley. One of these is PlumpJack Cafe, the brainchild of former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. In a dimly lit dining room, the restaurant serves seasonal contemporary fare such as the inventive ceviche cone, a feuille de brick cone filled with tuna, avocado, and ginger and topped with chili threads ($15).

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

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Upscale Mountain Lodge Between Donner Lake & Lake Tahoe

Tucked between Donner Lake and the much larger Lake Tahoe, the Larkspur Hotel Truckee-Tahoe in the mountain town of Truckee, California, places guests in close proximity to an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. From the outside, the building looks more like a rustic lodge than a traditional hotel. Its two-story, log-cabin-like façade features a woodsy mix of timber and stone that belies an upscale interior.

After long days of adventuring in the mountains and on the lakes, you can return to cozy accommodations outfitted with soft feather mattresses and down comforters. The hotel's offerings also include a heated outdoor pool, a whirlpool spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. For a taste of mountain-style Mexican fare, head to the onsite Mountain Burrito Company, where chefs prepare bison burritos and barkeeps serve draft beer and wine in a casual space adorned with flat-screen TVs. Each morning, a complimentary breakfast buffet includes hot eggs and fresh pastries.

Truckee, California: Outdoor Adventure near Lake Tahoe

Trendy boutiques and fine-dining establishments contrast with local dive bars and souvenir shops in the little mountain town of Truckee. A posh ski culture and a history as a western railroad town supply a distinctive mix of the chic and the rough-hewn. From McClashan Point, you can survey all of Donner Lake, the site where the Donner Party met their tragic fate in the winter of 1846.

Just a few minutes down the road from the airport lies Lake Tahoe, which reaches from California to Nevada and has a whopping 72 miles of shoreline. The mountainous Sierra Nevada landscape surrounding the lake attracts hikers and mountain bikers. Crowds of all ages gather at North Lake Tahoe's various special events, which range from wine and food festivals to rock concerts and mountain-lifting competitions. Nearby historical sites pay homage to Tahoe's past as a Native American settlement.

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

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Have you been watching the seven-day forecasts with increasing apprehension? When the triple-digit temps hit, don't sweat it -- you've got today's deal from Island Waterpark off Shaw and 99. For $65, get general admission passes for four, including four hot dogs and soft drinks (regularly $132), and you'll be ready to soak up the sun while keeping cool and having fun. Catch a wave at the enormous Bondi Beach wave pool, take a relaxing float around the winding Waimea River, or indulge your wild side on one of the thrilling slides. There are plenty of attractions for any age, and it's all designed for maximum summer entertainment. Younger visitors will love the Kids Key Largo Lagoon, a huge waterplay structure with smaller slides and interactive elements. And there's plenty of space to relax in the shade for those who forgo the H2O. Fear the weather report no more! Armed with this deal and a big bottle of sunscreen, you'll be ready for any rays.

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When improperly applied, makeup can have a harsh and unsettling effect on its onlookers, much like Richard Nixon's portrayal of Hamlet. Go easy on the eyes with this Groupon.

$79 for Permanent Eyebrow Color or Permanent Eyeliner on Top and Bottom Eyelids ($180 Value)

Before technicians begin the permanent-makeup procedure, they numb the skin with a topical anesthetic and sketch out the brow color or eyeliner shape in pencil so clients can approve it. Technicians then apply the mineral-based color to the brow or the top and bottom eyelids. Either service takes about one hour.

Permanent Beauty

After a day at most salons, you might look better for a few weeks; after an hour at Permanent Beauty, you might look better for several years. That's because the center specializes in permanent-makeup applications, during which skin artists apply long-lasting, mineral-based pigment to eyes, lips, and brows. The pigments are designed to fade gradually over time so clients can change makeup styles and shades as they age, change their hair color, or disintegrate into their component Transformers. Ever conscious of sanitation, the technicians use brand-new materials and equipment on each client. The end result is that clients achieve the dramatic glances, full lips, and expressive brows they've always desired but couldn't obtain without betraying Mr. Potato Head's trust.

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Thousands of years ago, people used pottery to carry water and store food. Nowadays, we still look to ceramics to hold our cereal and our hot beverages. CW Ceramics carries on the proud tradition (and adds a few tricks of its own); and with today's deal, pay $15 and get $30 to spend on ceramics or classes at this northwest Fresno studio. Drop by anytime to paint and decorate your own figurines, kitchen accessories, and more. Or, reserve a spot in one of the evening Diva Night or Date Night events, which regularly cost $10 each (plus the cost of a ceramic item to paint) and offer food and beverages. All creations are fired in an on-site kiln for a professionally finished look. This locally owned studio also sells greenware (unfired pottery), bisque (fired unglazed pottery), paints, and supplies for your own projects. Even a caveman would recognize that this is a great way to have fun with friends and create your own unique keepsake. Want more? Check out CW Ceramics on Facebook.

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As children grow up, they must learn that money doesn't grow on trees, dinner doesn't make itself, and real dogs are awful at basketball. Let kids be kids with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $39 for 4 weeks of classes with one class session per week (a $145 value) $49 for 5 summer-camp classes (a $175 value) $89 for 10 summer-camp classes (a $350 value)

Kids caper about in classes designed for specific ages: babies wriggle to music and explore rides with their parents, toddlers construct block towers and ride ziplines, and older kids learn gymnastics and the basics of healthy living to more faithfully reenact scenes from The Lord of the Flies back on the playground. See the full class schedule.

During summer-camp classes, kids ages 3-9 unleash their energy while playing fitness games and participating in non-competitive gymnastics. Arts and crafts, music, and other cognitive activities bolster creative thinking. The instructors change up themes and schedules each day and keep classes packed with activity and movement. Sessions run June 18-August 10 on Tuesdays from 1-4 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.

My Gym Clovis

At My Gym Clovis, an imagination-sized playscape opens before kids as they slip down slides, bound into ball pits, soar on the swings, and gambol on the trampoline. Age-appropriate classes help them make the most of the colorful space, ensuring that the littlest tyke never has to compete with larger, 300-year-old tortoises for toys. The youngest students start exploring sound and movement with their parents at six weeks old, and kids up to 13 years old boost their strength, flexibility, and cardio fortitude during fitness games. Lessons on healthy living teach kids to eschew sedentary activities such as watching TV and peeling paint with their laser vision in favor of more active endeavors. During the gym's free-play sessions, kids have their run of the place and burn off stores of excess energy, and My Gym Clovis also hosts fun, energetic birthday parties.

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Releasing sweat is an effective way to lower body temperature, as is taking a cold shower or swallowing an igloo. Keep your physique regulated with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $29 for five speed and agility classes for students ages 8 to 11 (up to a $125 value) $39 for five speed and agility classes for students ages 12 and up (up to a $150 value)

During speed-training classes, students learn the mechanics of swift, agile movement, then test their knowledge with strength-training exercises, turf-borne dashes, and plyometric jumping drills. A seasoned coach guides them through each 60- to 90-minute workout, modifying exercises to match participants' skill levels and emphasizing proper form to prevent injuries. Adjustable squat stands, aluminum training bars, and other specialized equipment bolster muscles to produce sprints more explosive than an argument with a popcorn kernel.

SPEED Sports Performance Education, Enhancement & Development

After 13 seasons of fighting fires with the US Forest Service, Erik Traeger decided to return to his athletic roots. The former soccer player, martial artist, and motorcycle racer became a strength and conditioning coach for NCAA Division I sports including baseball, women's basketball, and wrestling. He now brings his eye for muscular mechanics and knack for extinguishing brush fires to athletes young and old through SPEED Sports Performance Education, Enhancement & Development.

Every coach on Traeger's team has majored in kinesiology, the study of bodily mechanics. They preside over strength and conditioning drills for youngsters who dash around Fresno Indoor Soccer's 2,100-square foot gym and astroturf soccer field that's watered daily by a mime. For adult-sized students, the facility hosts CrossFit classes, an indoor boot camp, and a kettlebell club taught by instructors certified in russian kettlebell.

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The ocean has long been a stage for humanity's grandest achievements, from Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe to Columbus's discovery that lobsters look like tiny monsters. Set sail for seafood with this Groupon.

$20 for $40 Worth of New Orleans-Inspired Fare

The menu screams New Orleans blackened catfish ($14.95+), crab cakes ($17.95), baked pork spare ribs ($11.95+), red beans and rice with Louisiana sausages ($10.95), and filet mignon ($27.95).

Crawdaddy's

When the owners of Crawdaddy's decided to put a little bit of New Orleans' distinctive flair right in the heart of Visalia, they knew it would take more than great cuisine. What makes New Orleans so unforgettable is that it caters to all the senses and makes the smallest outing a special event. To fill that tall order, they took residence in a spacious facility that could be an exciting venue for music, parties, libations, food, and sporting events, all in one electric, lively place.

The second-floor dining room welcomes guests with a menu of fresh seafood such as blackened catfish and bayou butter prawns. A fully stocked bar wets whistles, and balcony seating offers couples a romantic setting under the stars-all 50 of them. Meanwhile, more than a dozen flat-screen TVs light up the crowd in the first floor's sports bar, where a mixologist whips up creative cocktails and TVs whip up the big game. In the dining area of the first floor, Keith and the Crawdads treat diners to lively tunes during the evening, and on the second level the nightclub sends crowds into fits of dance spasms as late-night DJs spin everything from hip-hop to disco six days a week.

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A trip to the paintball field is the only way to treat an itchy trigger finger, outside of expensive rash creams or firing a water gun carved from a cactus. Scratch the itch for vengeance with today's Groupon to Maximum Paintball, located inside the Fresno Regional Sports Complex. Maximum Paintball is open on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Deal

$15 for a paintball outing (a $30 value) that includes the following:

All-day field pass Paintball equipment All-day CO2 refills 200 paintballs

Maximum Paintball

After traipsing deep into Fresno Regional Sports Complex, warriors breach the perimeter of Maximum Paintball, an expansive enclave spread throughout several obstacle-infested outdoor fields. Concrete blocks, wooden horses, and metal barrels populate Field1, and regulation barricades such as pyramids, cylinders, and Paul Bunyan's beanbags wait to be splattered with neon paint in other nooks. Maximum Paintball hosts traditional paintball games and some with slight variations, all overseen by referees unafraid to eject people for unsportsmanlike conduct. An observation area with awnings and picnic tables protects onlookers from stray pellets, and a supply store on North Blackstone Avenue in Fresno stays open seven days a week to equip sharpshooters with necessary accouterments.

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