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 dinner fare and drinks

Chef Tony sizzles up starters such as buffalo-mozzarella caprese ($10.50) before crafting classic Italian entrees such as meat lasagna ($14.25), chicken marsala ($18.25), and seafood alfredo pasta ($19.25). See the full menu.

Rossini Cucina

Against vibrant red walls, a large mural paints a scene of two young lovers embracing beneath the glow of stars and streetlights on an Italian boulevard. It's an ideal evocation of Rossini Cucina's private dining nooks, where couples can retreat to enjoy an authentic Italian meal bathed in soft, romantic light from a wall-hung lantern. Of course, guests can also reserve a table in the brightly lit dining area, grab a seat on the outdoor patio, or initiate a massage train with all of the other patrons to experience a more communal vibe. As patrons relax in the elegant eatery, chef Tony whips up traditional handmade pastas, hand-cuts tender beef fillets, and drapes seafood entrees in subtle wine sauces. He also offers the Feed Me Tony option, where he'll personally customize feasts from start to finish and pair the appropriate wines to each course.

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Historic B & B with Park Views and Fine Southern Cuisine

Kentucky's Bluegrass Region is the textbook image of idyllic farmland-a landscape of rolling hills divided by rail fences into orchards, wineries, and horse pastures. In 1926, the Cleveland Orphanage Institution decided it was the perfect setting for educating children. They rebuilt the Cleveland Home as a Dutch Colonial Revival building, providing plenty of room for kids to run around. Today, it's become The Woodford Inn, a stately, red brick structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bruce and Linda Parker, two restaurateurs-turned-innkeepers, keep the place as welcoming as ever with warm hospitality and home-cooked southern fare.

The onsite Addie's Restaurant and Bar is named after Linda's mother, who used to prepare her family's large Sunday dinners. The restaurant serves local specialties such as the Hot Brown sandwich ($12) with roast turkey and country ham in cheesy mornay sauce. An equally hearty breakfast often includes pancakes, bacon, and omelets, all served from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. You can dine inside, where paintings of racehorses line the walls, or head out to the patio, which is flanked by grassy lawns and conifers. There's also a front porch, outfitted in classic southern fashion with rocking chairs and hanging ferns.

Inside, many of the inn's 10 guest rooms overlook the neighboring Woodford County Park. Though no two rooms are identical, all boast Tempur-Pedic mattresses, ornately carved headboards, and jacuzzi tubs. Room 3's two-person tub makes it a good fit for couples.

Versailles, Kentucky: Bluegrass Country Along Bourbon Trail

The town of Versailles was named after the site of Louis XIV's gilded palace in France, yet the two places share little in common. The American version is located along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a string of famous distilleries including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, and Wild Turkey. The region is also home to some of the most successful racehorse breeders in the world, whose ponies have gone on to win the Triple Crown and star in the doodles of 12-year-old girls all over the world.

Half an hour east, Lexington has many equine-related attractions of its own, including the Kentucky Horse Park and the Keeneland Race Track, a beautiful course that dates to 1935 and is known for its horse auctions. Nearby, the Mary Todd Lincoln House is filled with rooms made to look much like the ones lived in by Abraham Lincoln's First Lady.

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

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Bayside B & B with Jacuzzi at End of Private Dock

Along Florida's panhandle is a shoreline that is often called the Forgotten Coast. The beaches here have escaped any heavy development; instead, you'll get a glimpse of what old Florida was like, with soaring pines, saw palmettos, and snow-white dunes.

At the heart of the Forgotten Coast, the St. Joseph Peninsula stretches into the Gulf of Mexico. Cape San Blas Inn is situated on this narrow finger of land, which separates St. Joseph Bay from the open gulf. The inn stands just 200 yards from the beach on the opposite coast.

In the back of the inn, you can peer out to the water from bay windows and screened-in porches. A wooden boardwalk leads toward the water, where you'll find a dock extending into the bay. You can borrow one of the inn's complimentary canoes here, or paddle to the end of the pier, where there's a hot tub situated right on the waterfront.

Inside, no two guest rooms are exactly alike, but all include Sleep Number beds and prints of tropical beaches hanging on the walls. The Turtle Shell suite is the largest room, with a tile-framed fireplace beside french doors that lead onto a private patio.

In the morning, the inn lays out a spread of Starbucks-brand coffee with dishes such as quiche or french toast. Feel free to eat in the large, airy dining room, or carry your plate out to the veranda to watch starfish try to form constellations.

Port St. Joe, Florida: Beachfront Parks and Coastal Towns

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is one of the prettiest local beaches. It overlooks both the bay and the shores of the gulf around the secluded eastern tip of the peninsula. All over the beachfront dunes you'll see sand pine scrub, and migrating falcons visit the 1,900-acre wilderness reserve every fall. The Cape San Blas connects the peninsula with the mainland. It features a lighthouse that has been rebuilt no fewer than four times.

Head inland to the town of Port St. Joe, which has seafood restaurants and charter cruises, or travel farther east to Apalachicola, a city named for a Native American tribe and often translated as "land of the friendly people." The city is lined with 19th-century architecture, including the Orman House and Raney House. Both of these Greek Revivalist-style mansions were built by cotton magnates. If it's getting hot outside, head to the John Gorrie Museum-the former home of the man who pioneered air conditioning.

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

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Midtown Manhattan is home to some of the world's most talked-about landmarks, from the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings to Rockefeller Center and the bright lights of Times Square. Allow us to draw up the blueprints for this week's well-engineered Escape to The Gotham Hotel on 46th Street, a sleek boutique property offering personal touches in a prime locale: sandwiched between all the action of Madison and Fifth Avenues, formerly the space of the beloved Gotham Book Mart. You and a guest will be positively floored by a two-night stay, Fridays through Sundays, in a chic Gotham 2 Room Type-complete with a king bed and private terrace-on floors two through nine ($600). And don't be surprised by the lack of a check-in desk: Upon your arrival, a staff member will greet you with a VIP welcome amenity before escorting you to your accommodations. Airy, light-filled guest rooms are appointed with streamlined European furnishings, tailored minibars, and lavish linens. Your Escape also includes an upgrade to a Gotham 3 Room Type when available. On floors ten through 23, these units feature king beds and private terraces with views of the skyline. Z!NK magazine describes a stay here as "a new type of hotel experience in the center of Midtown Manhattan. With terraces off of every room, guests feel as if they are floating above the city." When hunger comes knocking at the door, rest assured you'll stay well fed with assorted fresh pastries and a daily breakfast for two. In the evening, cozy up to your companion during dinner at on-site restaurant Tenpenny. You'll use your $50 dining credit to savor Italian-American cuisine that Z!NK says "hearkens back to the American cuisine of old" when "New York City was an up-and-comer in the restaurant world." The next morning, structure your day however you like: You'll be within walking distance of some of the city's best sights, including Central Park, the Theatre District, and 30 Rock. Or, browse the likes of Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks along the retail mecca that is Fifth Avenue. For an exciting Escape to the city that never sleeps, the writing's on the wall: Pack your bags and hit the town-at prices that aren't through the roof.

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Quaint B & B with Horse Stables and Petting Zoo

Each morning at the crack of dawn, a rooster named Carlos announces the arrival of a new day on Splendor Farms. Carlos is joined at the onsite petting zoo by a menagerie of furry and winged residents, including miniature horses, baby goats, ducks, alpacas, and sheep. Located about 60 miles north of New Orleans, Splendor Farms is a 75-acre working farm and quaint bed and breakfast, run by Kelly Denise Bensabat.

The guest experience at Splendor Farms revolves around the animals. You'll have a chance to play with the longhaired miniature dachshunds in the kennel, or help gather eggs in the hen house. Included with this deal is a complimentary trail ride on one of the farm's gentle, resident horses. Scenic riding trails wind through the woods, across big fields, and alongside the nearby Bogue Chitto River. You can also fish (bait and tackle included), canoe, and tube on the river, or splash around back at the swimming pool.

Each of the inn's three guest rooms is individually furnished and comes with a private entrance. Befitting its name, the newly renovated Ponderosa features wood-paneled walls, accented with vintage cowboy art, a western-themed quilt, and a stone wheel to sharpen your spurs. The Ponderosa also features a screen porch and overlooks the patio and pool. La Louisiane, the most spacious room, opens onto the pool and is decorated in a Mardi Gras theme of purple, green, and gold with Louisiana art and literature. The Queens' Suite boasts a four-poster bed, floral decor, and an attached gazebo. Each morning, the innkeepers prepare a farm-style country breakfast, made from the organic eggs produced by onsite hens.

Bush, Louisiana: Charming Southern Town North of Lake Pontchartrain

Splendor Farms, located within the town of Bush, sits about 60 miles north of New Orleans. Nearby Covington boasts a handful of antique and specialty shops on Lee Lane, but if you're in town on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to stop by the farmers' market for local produce, meats, and baked goods. Located between Bush and Covington is the Abita Brewery, which produces the popular beers Turbodog and Purple Haze. Visitors can take a tour of the microbrewery Wednesday-Saturday, or stop in the Abita Brew Pub for a burger and a pint.

Though Splendor Farms sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

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

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Like an unemployed younger brother, hair can sometimes show up uninvited and refuse to leave. Rid yourself of stray strands with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

$29 for a full-body-detoxification package (a $135 total value)

A health and weight-loss consultation, including body measurements (a $25 value) A 30-minute foot-detoxification treatment (a $40 value) A 30-minute body-detoxification treatment (a $65 value) A hydrating citrus drink (a $5 value)

$79 for the above package with three of each treatment and three drinks (a $355 value)

$109 for the above package with six of each treatment and six drinks (a $685 value)

Each option includes a complimentary 90 for Life Pharmaceutical Discount Card, which pays for 85% of all pharmacy prescription costs for those without insurance.

The Powder Room

The passionate aestheticians at The Power Room customize all services to beautify clients based on individual styles and desires. Stylists update coiffures in haircare treatments that include fashionable cuts, formal updos, and partial or full highlights. Natural nails can be rewarded with manicures or enhanced with a set of acrylic, gel, or fiberglass nails. The Powder Room's waxing technicians soothe sensitive skin with a preconditioner before applying a nonstrip wax to minimize clients' discomfort. Clients lying on the heated waxing table can also opt for an application of essential oils in fragrant aromas such as tea tree, lavender, or dusty encyclopedia. The staff of six beauty experts also hosts an array of special events for wedding preparation and group spa days.

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Massage is a time-honored method of alleviating stress, as is the ancient art of crafting origami swans out of midterm exams. Ace relaxation with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $40 for a 60-minute deep-tissue massage (an $80 value) $48 for a 30-minute body-butter massage and an exfoliating body polish (a $105 value) $62 for a 60-minute body-butter massage and an exfoliating body polish (a $125 value)

The deep-tissue massage uses intense pressure to reach the deepest layers of muscle and relieve tension there. Alternatively, the body-butter massage nurtures the skin with a cream- and cake-scented shea-butter whip and jojoba and soybean oils rich in vitamin E. The exfoliating body polish sloughs off the outermost layer of dull, damaged skin cells with a cream-based exfoliant, leaving the skin soft and smooth.

BodyWork by Lashea

Lashea Sabatini's roster of massage therapies and body treatments sound indulgent-the shea-butter body whip, the aromatherapy oils-but often they couldn't have a more serious intent. That's because Lashea specializes in fertility massage, a modality that she says aids in conception by cleansing the digestive system, balancing the body's cranial-sacral alignment, and stimulating the genes that cause humans to become successful doctors instead of manatees. Along with fertility massage, she offers Swedish, deep-tissue, and prenatal massage.

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