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.

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.

Unlike visiting a new neighbor's house, visiting a steak house comes with a virtual guarantee that you'll be welcomed, fed, and trusted with knives. Make a hunger-halting house call with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of steaks, seafood, and drinks at Star Steak and Lobster House in the French Quarter.

Star Steak and Lobster House's chefs plate aged USDA Prime steak cuts and fresh seafood catches from a menu that celebrates Louisiana flavors. For starters, a crawfish-and-mushroom cream sauce swathes two Louisiana crab cakes ($11), and forks stake a land claim after mounting an order of loaded potato skins ($7). Chefs stuff the Cajun filet mignon ($32) with crab, lobster, shrimp, crawfish, and copies of Moby Dick before dousing it with a red-wine mushroom sauce. A flame-broiled 8-ounce fillet teams up with a steamed lobster tail and four golden-fried shrimp in the surf 'n' turf ($39), which, like all entrees, is accompanied by a choice of a down-home side such as whipped potatoes or creamed spinach.

Silence thirst's incessant barking with selections from the drinks menu, including frothy mugs of local Abita brews ($4.50) and Louisiana lemonades mixed with Bacardi rum and strawberry liqueur ($8). Guests feast their ears on regular live performances of jazz, blues, and classic rock, whose notes bounce amid the dining hall's scarlet walls as energetically as a puppy in a tennis-ball factory.

Without restaurants, waiters would purposelessly wander parks all day, folding swans out of actual swans. Keep their hands occupied with this Groupon.

The menu includes Italian dishes such as veal parmesan ($13.95) and lasagna ($12.95), as well as creole favorites including trout orleans ($22.95) and catfish lafitte ($16.95).

In 1976, Augle Lopez finally realized his dream of opening a restaurant that ushered some of the French Quarter's charm and hospitality into neighboring Harahan. His mission is evident in the menu, which blends approachable, homestyle Italian fare with fresh seafood and creole standards. Chefs ladle house-made marinara over delicate angel-hair pasta, dress fresh seafood with classic lafitte and meunière sauces, and fry catfish and shrimp to a crisp, golden brown. Smilie's also hosts large-scale events, such as weddings, banquets, and support-group meetings for oxygen addicts, within their large banquet hall adorned with flowers and white tablecloths.

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.

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.

Maneuvering a scooter requires only simple steering skills, passable balance, and the ability to ramp over sleeping hobos. Catch some air with this Groupon.

All rentals begin at noon and end at noon the following day.

Big Easy Scooters facilitates half- and full-day excursions throughout New Orleans with name-brand scooter rentals from Aprilia, Genuine, and Auto Moto. Equipped with helmets and accidental-damage insurance, guests cruise through the historic French Quarter, pausing for glimpses of celebrity-owned residences and sprinklers that spray Sazerac. In addition to rentals, Big Easy Scooters sells previously owned and new scooters including classic models and three-wheeled Auto Motos.

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.

In the Dark Ages, princesses exfoliated with Faberge-egg dust and filed fingernails on the edges of gold doubloons. Revel in more modern and luxurious beauty treatments with this Groupon.

Clients can select up to seven spa services ($39 each), including luminous facials to reduce the appearance of sun damage, hydro massage with heated water jets, and sauna sessions for full-body detoxification.

A wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas-its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries-Planet Beach Contempo Spa is a futuristic relaxation station where state-of-the-art machines administer all the spa and tanning services. These friendly automatons sometimes replace familiar treatments, as in the Luminous facial, a light-based service that delivers blemish-busting results similar to those of a conventional facial. But other equipment maps out new spa territory entirely: the Hydro-Derma Fusion chamber moisturizes the whole body with nutrient-rich steam in order to offset the effects of a dry climate or a rear-end collision with a salt truck. Other machines whiten teeth, spray tan skin, and massage muscles. Planet Beach operates on a gym-style membership system, meaning that members purchase packages or pay flat monthly rates. As members spend more time at the spa, they get to know the helpful assistants who are always on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment without activating its ability to cry.

Cupcakes are so popular in America that the top three Internet searches are "cupcakes," "hunky firemen," and "hunky firemen kissing cupcakes." Find what you're really looking for with this Groupon.

This deal can be redeemed at Cupcake Concept's two locations in Covington and Mandeville.

Every morning, the bakers of Cupcake Concept round up the fresh ingredients needed for the day's menu of confections, which include six daily cupcake staples and a few rotating specialty flavors. Bakers manipulate flavorful batches of batter into classic cupcakes, miniature cupcake bites, and besticked Lollicakes, creating confections just the right size to equip a party or plug up a transdimensional wormhole. Available in flavors such as mint julep, Nana's banana pudding, and strawberry lemonade, the frosted cakes can be artfully displayed in multi-tiered party arrangements or outfitted with optional sprinkles and seasonally shaped fondant decorations. The shop gives back 10% of its income to local organizations, helping to return the favor to the customers who support it.

Walking tours explore intriguing surroundings at a leisurely pace, much like a photography class held in a thick bog of quicksand. Let it all sink in with this Groupon.

Treme tours explore the historic neighborhood of Treme, which cradled the fledgling civil-rights movement and future jazz greats within its buildings. Groups stop in St. Augustine Church, the oldest African-American Catholic parish in the nation, and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Slave, a sculpture of chains, shackles, and crosses that honors lives lost during the era of slavery. Tours also cover the musical history of the neighborhood, showing off the sights that inspired jazz, blues, and rock 'n' roll, including a historically significant laundromat and the first tree to ever grow a six-string guitar.

Given New Orleans' great wealth of stories, it's no surprise that the city itself would certify its master storytellers. This certification, held by every one of French Quarter Phantoms' guides, is put to good use as they lead small groups of travelers through the city's dark alleys on historically accurate ghost and true-crime tours. The guides' expertly spun, chilling tales earned French Quarter Phantoms the accolade of second-best haunted tour in America from HauntedAmericaTours.com, as well as a certificate of authenticity from Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang.

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.

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.

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.

Treatments last one or two hours depending on service and typically require no downtime, though swelling may occur for up to three days depending on the client.

Working out of Precision Ink tattoo shop, the artists at Precision Ink Permanent Makeup enhance natural beauty with professional SofTap pigments. Applied by hand, the technique creates enduring color on eyebrows, lips, and around eyes and eyelashes, resulting in shorter morning-makeup routines and ensuring faces look great even while sleepwalking.

In science-fiction movies, bad guys use lasers to burn down national landmarks, whereas good guys use lasers to burn CDs for cool aliens. Get closer encounters with this Groupon.

Click here for a list of treatment areas and here for more information.

Carole Siegel-DeZarn first opted to get inked with permanent cosmetics as a way of simplifying her busy life as a mother. Her desire to share this beautification technique with others led her to become a certified instructor of SofTap permanent cosmetics and open Softouch Permanent Makeup & Laser Technologies. She and her staff enhance clients' appearances with lip color, eyeliner, and natural-looking eyebrows that don't wash off in the shower or streak when knife-fighting with onions. Laser technicians on the team also banish unwanted body hair and tattoos with noninvasive treatments, or cause unsightly spider veins to fade from existence with Veinwave's high-frequency heat energy.

Camping brings man closer to nature and nature closer to a boom box. Introduce Mother Nature to Papa Roach with this Groupon.

Passes provide unlimited access to canoes, swimming pools, mini golf, and scheduled daily activities.

In a fun twist on traditional campgrounds, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park supplies visitors with amenities and creature comforts such as WiFi and a video arcade. Two swimming pools and two fishing lakes can be found on campus along with playgrounds, a baseball field, and a basketball court. There are 12 types of cabins that come with kitchens, beds, heat, and air conditioning or 374 campsites and RV sites that can accommodate those traveling via saddled wooly mammoth. When not fishing the nearby lakes, families can board a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat for a leisurely float under the sun. After picnicking beneath the trees or relaxing poolside, guests can challenge each other to a game of mini golf or take a tractor-pulled hayride. Onsite laundry facilities ensure clean clothes, and seasonal activities keep kids occupied.