Modern B&B in the Heart of Ohio Amish Country

Holmes County, Ohio, is home to the world's largest Amish community, a culture that eschews modern technology in search of a simpler lifestyle. Consequently, the region feels even more separate from city life than other rural areas, a trait that makes it especially attractive to some. The Inn at Honey Run embraces this ethos while still offering an onsite spa, an upscale restaurant, and other comforts you'd expect from a luxury boutique hotel.

The Inn at Honey Run's aesthetic is a far cry from the earthy farmhouses just a few miles away. Bucolic yet refined decor covers both the lobby and the guest rooms with wreaths of sinewy dried vines and local artwork made of wrought iron and polished wood. Several Select rooms occupy upper floors, where treetops are visible through reading nooks' skylights. Alternatively, Honeycomb rooms are built into a hillside and come with a secluded outdoor patio.

Every morning, guests gather at Tarragon, the Inn's upscale yet casual restaurant, for a continental breakfast of fresh fruit, yogurt, and house-made muffins and pastries. For lunch and dinner, Executive Chef Scott Fetty draws on his training and uses seasonal, local ingredients to craft upscale American cuisine.

At the onsite Spa at Honey Run, sip on flowering tea before a massage, facial treatment, or body treatment that uses 100% organic oils and scrubs. The hiking trails that crisscross the property are another source of relaxation, passing through meadows and forests and along burbling brooks. For an additional fee of $125, the inn will arrange an authentic Amish-country buggy ride around the surrounding hills.

Holmes County, OH: Bucolic Farmland Rich in Amish Tradition

Located about 80 miles south of Cleveland, Holmes County's rolling countryside is rife with farms and stores, as well as a few tourist attractions. See the Amish lifestyle up close at The Farm at Walnut Creek, which also houses exotic creatures such as giraffes, camels, and kangaroos alongside regional animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. The Holmes County Trail follows 29 miles of former railroad lines, from nearby Killbuck to Fredericksburg, with 15 paved miles accommodating Amish buggies and bicycles.

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

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New Boutique Hotel Steps from Michigan Avenue

Located one block east of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Ivy Boutique Hotel opens in May 2012 as the newest work from Arthur Minor, who designed The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. With swanky amenities including mirror televisions and theater surround sound in all guest rooms, the hotel seems poised to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Although the Ivy rises up 15 stories, there are only five guest rooms per floor, providing guests with a mixture of intimacy and comfort that makes it "the only true boutique luxury hotel in the city," according to HotelChatter.

After guests check in via iPad, hotel staff members personally escort them to 675-square-foot king suites. A paragon of modern design, the suites contain platform beds with white leather headboards and floor-to-ceiling windows that open. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring, along with organic towels and rugs made from thistle, help to reduce the hotel's carbon footprint. Guests can watch the flat-screen TV set in the vanity mirror while getting ready in the morning or practice Tarzan-style affirmation chants in the rainforest shower.

The Ivy is also in the process of opening an intimate 30- to 40-person restaurant and bar on the first floor. "We will try to use as much organic produce as possible," manager James Cazares says of his upcoming, reservations-only hot spot. A rooftop lounge opening in June will offer picture-perfect views of the city.

Gold Coast, Chicago: Ritzy Residential Neighborhood with Historical Mansions and Hip Restaurants

Located north of downtown, Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood hugs the shore of Lake Michigan, occupying some of the city's most desirable real estate. Its reputation as an upscale residential spot dates back to 1882, when wealthy businessmen began building castle-like mansions along the waterfront. For a glimpse at these historical estates, head to the Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive District, where you'll find a French-chateau-inspired mansion that now serves as the International Museum of Surgical Science. A walk down Astor Street reveals some of the city's most unique architecture, including the Charnley-Persky House built by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892.

Those looking for a hip nightlife will find trendy restaurants and nightclubs-many of which are open until 5 a.m.-catering to a well-dressed crowd. For people watching and the occasional celebrity sighting, head to Rush and Division, a see-and-be-seen spot dotted with upscale shops, classic Chicago bars, and diamond-encrusted parking meters.

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

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It's often said that everything we need to know, we learned in kindergarten. But since it's tough to catch an afternoon nap at our desks, here's a lesson you should never forget: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially with today's deal from Murphy's Family Restaurant. Drop $5 for $10 to spend on food and drink at this family-owned eatery known for an A-plus breakfast menu that's served all day. It's voted Best Breakfast in Allendale by the Chamber of Commerce, so pick from the list of skillets and omelettes, from the Western (ham, onions, green peppers, and cheese) to the Irish (sliced corned beef with onions and Swiss), and even the five-pound, 16-egg omelette: finish it in 30 minutes and you'll get to rename it. Sample French toast, blueberry pancakes, giant cinnamon rolls, and more, or go for the lunch menu and snag the "Big Daddy" one-pound burger. With so much fine fare, this is a great time to practice sharing with your friends. Want more? Check out Murphy's Family Restaurant on Facebook.

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Golf is one of the few sports in which players can compete against themselves, along with paddleball and seeing how many potatoes they can eat. Put yourself to the test with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $39 for an 18-hole round of golf for two, including cart rental (up to a $78 value) $75 for an 18-hole round of golf for four, including cart rental (up to a $156 value)

Chase Hammond Golf Club's rates fluctuate throughout the week and according to age.

Chase Hammond Golf Club

Carved through dense woodland, Chase Hammond Golf Club's 18-hole course showcases a scenic backdrop and a well-manicured landscape. Throughout the course, a tapestry of towering trees sways over the edges of fairways, shrinking landing zones for the tiny Scottish pilots who steer golf balls from their dimple-size cockpits. Wildlife such as deer, turkeys, eagles, and foxes occasionally emerges from the foliage to check in on players' rounds, adding character to the vibrant fringe. Before rounds, golfers and their clubs can warm up swings at the club's driving range.

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We all scream for ice cream, especially when the truck is teetering on the edge of the cliff. Scoop to the rescue with this Groupon.

$5 for $10 Worth of Ice Cream

The menu includes items such as a scoop of ice cream ($1.99), a root-beer float ($2.50 for a 16 oz.), and a frozen-yogurt smoothie ($3.50 for a 16 oz.). Fleetwood Ice Cream Parlor is open 2 p.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Fleetwood Ice Cream Parlor

Next to the Fleetwood Bar & Grill is a portal to another world. Here, cold mountains of soft serve swirl toward the heavens and scoops of hand-dipped ice cream bathe in rivers of hot fudge and caramel. Known as the Fleetwood Ice Cream Parlor, this exotic land brims with custom frozen treats, which visitors build from more than a dozen toppings such as pecans, sprinkles, and cookie dough. A list of 24 specialty flavors whisks taste buds to tropical destinations with choices such as banana and coconut. In addition to sating sweet teeth with icy sweetness, low-fat frozen yogurt rattle spines with gleeful shivers, like a birthday gift from Dracula.

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History tends to repeat itself, which means there's a good chance you'll get run over by another war elephant. Learn from the past with this Groupon.

$8 for a Farm Museum Visit for Four (Up to $16 Value)

Admission grants patrons access to the museum's permanent collection of tractors, folk art, and antique-farm implements, as well as the 11th annual quilt show, Quilts and Their Stories--a two-month exhibit that features more than 150 handmade and modern quilts.

Tickets for children aged 4-12 are $2 each, and admission is free for members and children aged 3 and younger.

Coopersville Farm Museum and Event Center

As the sun dips below Coopersville Farm Museum and Event Center's grain silo, local musicians gather in the high-ceilinged hall against the backdrop of patchwork quilts and antique farm tools. They sing gospel, country, and folk songs that have been passed down for generations. Events such as these are one facet of the museum's mission to honor and uphold rural traditions. In addition to the monthly jam sessions, the 12,000-square-foot facility hosts quilting circles, line dancing, and other skill-swapping events. Curators spotlight the region's agrarian past by recruiting antique-farming tools and folk art and freeing hopelessly lost scarecrows from corn mazes. In addition to shining a light on the region's past, the museum strives to support current culture makers; The hall serves as a gallery space for local artists, and during the youth-led Kids' Day local teens teach tykes creative skills.

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The best part of kayaking is the exhilaration of exploration, up until you realize the difficulty of paddling through pudding in your bathtub and must face yourself in the mirror. Take to real water with this Groupon:

Choose from Three Options $20 for an eight-hour kayak rental for one (a $40 value) $22 for an eight-hour kayak rental for two (a $45 value) $35 for an eight-hour standup-paddleboard rental (a $70 value)

Gun Lake Rentals

Perched on the banks of Gun Lake, Gun Lake Rentals provides visitors with access to their flotilla of boats and personal watercrafts. The fleet includes jet skis, ski boats, and pontoon boats, as well as paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. After a full day of staying afloat on an oversized puddle, guests can explore nearby hiking trails and picnic sites or seek out attractions in Shelbyville, which include golf courses, miniature golf courses, and horse ranches.

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Obstacle courses are metaphors for life's trials-tall walls represent unaccomplished goals, narrow bridges represent the fear of failure, and mud pits represent the daily grind at the mud-pie factory. Conquer what holds you back this Groupon.

$29 for Mud Factor Obstacle-Course-Run Entry ($55 Value)

At Baja Acres on Saturday, June 30, competitors don event T-shirts and bandanas before tackling fun, challenging obstacles in waves that depart every half hour, with the first available wave starting at 9 a.m. and the last leaving at noon. Finishers receive a medal; runners 21 and older also enjoy a complimentary beer. Parking (not included in this Groupon) is $10 per car. View the course map here.

Must register online by deadline.

Mud Factor

Each year, Mud Factor plows into towns across the country towing along a fun yet challenging course full of obstacles and mud to trudge through. It's five kilometers of dirty, sweaty madness that pits runners not against each other, but against their own expectations. After donning event bibs, T-shirts, and bandanas and threatening timing chips into their proper places on shoelaces, runners rocket off the starting line in waves, dashing away to prove their superior hardcoreness to steep hills, muddy pits, and inner demons. Costumes are encouraged-be they Mud-Thing ensembles or strategically placed speedos-for racers who'd rather rock their own style. By conquering the course, participants win the right to don achievement medals; those who've successfully wrestled life for legal-drinking status can celebrate their mastery of Mud Factor with a mug of beer.

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Getting your vehicle cleaned at the car wash uses less water than hosing it down at home and less gas than driving it into a river. Combat grime efficiently with this Groupon.

$19 for Three Ultimate Car Washes ($39 Value)

Each wash includes a pre-wash and bug spray, a thorough exterior wash, underbody flush, and hot air-dry. Applications of triple-coat polish and Magic Bond protectant add showroom gleam to paint jobs, and wheel polish leaves rims and rubber sparkling.

Though Walker Carwash, Inc. sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

Walker Carwash, Inc.

Drawing upon experience accrued during more than 25 years in business, crews at Walker Carwash, Inc. scrub rides clean with a quintet of cleaning packages. Steely exteriors soak up automated washes and powerful cleaning products before enjoying treatments such as an underbody flush, pre-wash bug spray, and hot air-dry. After cleaning out dusty interiors, patrons use free vacuums to scare away nosy canine officers.

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The best sauces, like the best imaginary friends, are rich and from the Mediterranean. Dine alone or with Esmeralda the railroad tycoon with this Groupon.

$15 for $30 Worth of Italian-American Pub Fare

The expansive menu includes hand-tossed pizzas, such as the Tuscan with italian sausage, red peppers, and spinach ($10.99 for a 10-inch); penne bolognese ($5.99 at lunch; $8.49 at dinner); and entrees such as baby-back ribs ($18.99 for a full rack) and chicken marsala ($8.49 at lunch; $13.99 at dinner).

Olivera's

When it came time for him to break out on his own, Riccardo Biella chose not to go very far. After 10 years of working in his family's restaurants, he opened Olivera's in 2002, melding the cuisines of Italy and the United States and adding some Mexican touches, in a cavernous space framed by exposed stone and dark brown wainscoting. Pasta dishes with house-made sauce slide onto tables alongside steak and seafood entrees, and pizzas roll into strategically placed and propped-open laptop bags to deliver kalamata olives, feta, bacon, and baby spinach. Signature burritos come drenched in spiced sauce that's made from scratch and paired with sides of sour cream and salsa, the latter of which is also made in-house.

Sports games flash across the faces of a smattering of flat-screen televisions, arranged so that almost every seat in the house has a good view of the NBA slam-dunk contest or the NFL touchdown dance-off.

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