When you reside amidst the hustle and bustle of the big city, there's nothing like a miniature stay-cation to remind you that nature is just a short distance away. Get back in touch with Earth in a relaxing way with today's deal from Delaware River Tubing. Ford the river with one 4-hour journey: Pay $14 (regularly $28) for a tubing trip; $18 (regularly $37) for a rafting trip; $20 (regularly $40) for a canoeing trip; or $25 (regularly $50) for a kayaking trip. All excursions come with a barbecue meal from The Famous River Hot Dog Man, including two hot dogs or a cheeseburger, one large beverage, and chips or a frozen dessert treat -- served on picnic tables in the water. For the trip, you'll also receive a life jacket and paddles -- plus key check, changing rooms, and showers are available on site. Launching a mile south of Frenchtown on Daniel Bray Highway, this rafting outfit allows people to ride the same legendary river that George Washington crossed in 1776. Escape from congested roads and crowds, replacing them with natural beauty and open waterways.

Address:

Spas make people feel like royalty without the hassle of shopping for scepters or posing for playing-card portraits. Enjoy regal treatments with this Groupon.

Choose from Four Options

$18 for a 60-minute So Spa Couture Girl spa package for one (a $36 value)

Girlie Glam nail service Hairstyling Smoothie or berry facial Express makeup application

$30 for a 90-minute Seriously BFFs spa package for two (a $64 value)

Girlie Glam nail services Hairstyling Smoothie or berry facials Express makeup applications Signature sparkling-lemonade toast

$45 for a 90-minute Mommy & Me spa package for two (a $99 value)

Me! Ice Cream mani-pedis Chocolate facials Hairstyling Eye contour makeup applications Signature sparkling-lemonade toast Dessert platter

$85 for a Pampered Party spa package for up to six (a $190 value)

Girlie Girl nail service Hairstyling Express makeup application Girlie Girl invites or e-vites Spa robes, head wraps, and eye masks Couture cupcakes, ice-cream cones, and pizza Sparkling-pink-lemonade toast Exclusive gift bags for each guest

Additional guests can be added to the Pampered Party for $18 each.

Seriously Girlie Couture

Within the sherbet-hued walls of Seriously Girlie Couture, friendly stylists indulge girls 2 to 17 years old with dessert-themed spa services that emphasize building self-esteem. Silver cutout stars twinkle overhead as they let girls' nails soak in ice-cream-cone-shaped bowls or adorn them with chocolate-scented polish. As the team focuses on kiddos, kiddos can focus on having a blast as they lounge amid plush pink couches, delicate floral garlands, and fuzzy pillows. Little ones can also throw a spa party for five or more friends to celebrate milestones from having a birthday to learning that tinfoil cannot be put in the microwave.

Address:

Historical Inn with Glass-Enclosed Porch Overlooking Lake

In the 19th century, some of the Northeast's industrial pioneers- including Silas March, an entrepreneur and New York state assemblyman-spent their idle days in a clapboard estate built along the shores of Mariaville. In 2003, husband-and-wife innkeepers Rick and Lorrie Runnels purchased this historical home and dubbed it the Mariaville Lake Bed and Breakfast. Since then, they've made extensive renovations while managing to preserve the building's casual, Federal-style elegance; it still has its original moldings, wood-burning fireplaces, and hardwood floors in some of the guest rooms.

The building is tucked into a woodsy area along the private, 200-acre Mariaville Lake, and it's a prime spot to get in some fishing and swimming. The B&B also owns two kayaks, one canoe, and one rowboat, which are all available for guests. Or feel free to take a stroll through the wealth of hiking trails that crisscross the property; one in particular leads to a beaver dam. In summer and fall, you can tell ghost stories and dry your laundry over a crackling bonfire in the evening.

The inn's five guest rooms are individually decorated, but all look out to Mariaville Lake. You have to use an old-fashioned skeleton key to get into the Vineyard and Lakeview rooms, as they are located in the original part of the house.

Come morning, the innkeepers serve a breakfast by candlelight in the formal dining room or on the glass-enclosed porch. The chefs prepare a different hot entree each morning, such as banana-stuffed french toast, veggie frittatas, or puffed apple pancakes. You can typically find house-made pastries, fresh juices, yogurt, fresh fruit, coffee, and tea.

Mariaville, New York: Small Town on the Shores of Mariaville Lake

Mariaville is part of the 18th century town of Duanesburg, located about 30 miles west of Albany. Thanks to its location along the 200-acre Mariaville Lake, the town became a resort community in the 1920s. Not a whole lot has changed since then; there's still only one traffic light in the city to date, and every high-school class is taught by the mayor.

The town of Schenectady offers a dose of culture fewer than 15 miles east. Aside from shopping and restaurants, you can find the historical Proctors Theater, which opened as a vaudeville venue in the early 20th century but sank into disrepair by the late 1970s. A group of concerned citizens rallied to restore the theater, which now hosts regular performances of ballets, musicals, comedians, and concerts.

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

Address:

The shoulders carry much of the body's tension, as well as the body's finite supply of shrugs. Let go with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $39 for a one-hour Swedish or Hawaiian massage (an $80 value) $99 for three one-hour Swedish or Hawaiian massages (a $240 value)

Massage therapist Karen Reifinger performs a continual sequence of gliding, tapping, and kneading motions for the Swedish massage. This modality gently relaxes the body and increases circulation. During the Hawaiian LomiLomi massage, Karen circles the massage table and uses her elbows, forearms, and hands in long-flowing, wave-like movements covering the full length of the body. LomiLomi dissipates neuromuscular tension and instills a sense of mental tranquility.

Huna Mua Wellness Center

At Huna Mua Wellness Center, founder and director Karen Reifinger breathes new life into ancient Polynesian medicine. An accredited practitioner of LomiLomi, Huna, and Kahuna Lapa'au, Karen channels the wisdom of revered Hawaiian healers and dashboard hula girls to help clients discover whole-body health. When she practices LomiLomi massage, Karen pours intensive energy into the recipient, allowing the interplay of touch and reflex to generate a deep state of relaxation. To perform Huna Mua-a healing art that harmonizes body and mind-she calls upon 35,000-year-old teachings. Karen supplements the practices of the Pacific Islands with quantum-energy technology and offers state-recognized workshops and certification programs on topics including Hawaiian healing studies.

Address:

Known for its spices, Indian fare jolts the taste buds in a manner that kissing an electrical socket could never match. Enjoy shockingly good cuisine with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $20 for $40 worth of Indian fare for parties of two or more $39 for $80 worth of Indian fare for parties of four or more

Fresh-made naan bread ($1.95) sweeps up pieces of chicken tandoori bathed in a creamy yogurt sauce ($15.95-$22.95) or tender chunks of meat battered in Indian spices on the lamb-tikka platter ($17.95). See the full menu.

Aashiyana Fine Indian Cuisine

At the bottom of Aashiyana Fine Indian Cuisine's chimney sits a construction that has been the tool of Indian chefs for centuries: the tandoor. This traditional clay oven sears meat to its core with super-hot flames, turning chicken a signature bright-red color and transforming wayward snowmen into quivering pools of regret. Chefs drench these succulent morsels of tandoori meat with creamy curries and yogurt-based sauces, which they can customize to each guest's preferred level of spiciness. Fluffy piles of wild-grain rice or buttery naan flatbread are available to escort entrees to the table, and the restaurant's BYOB policy invites guests to bring their favorite brew or wine to temper the tingle of spice.

A short flight of stairs splits the dining room neatly in half, amplifying privacy by creating two intimate spaces. Maroon napkins folded into crown-like shapes await diners at each table, ready to flop into laps or adorn heads when the staff spontaneously knights you the Tandoori King.

Address:

Right in the middle of Washington, DC, the Adams Morgan neighborhood's history is entwined with jazz musicians who performed at the legendary Showboat Lounge. Today, it's a fast-paced hub of multicultural activity. See for yourself with this week's Escape to Adam's Inn, a Victorian bed and breakfast located on a quiet residential street one block from the neighborhood's shopping and dining corridor. "A well-kept place spread across three town houses on a quiet street in Adams Morgan," says The Washington Post. "For those who want to be in that haven of ethnic restaurants and clubs, the location is perfect." You and a companion will spend one night in a room with a private bath, Sundays through Thursdays ($85) or Fridays and Saturdays ($99). This prime location is just a five-minute walk from the zoo and a ten-minute walk from the Woodley Park Metro station connecting you to the whole city. To keep your caffeine levels from falling B-flat, start your morning on the right note by heading to Tryst, a coffeehouse, bar, and lounge that Capital Spice calls "the grandaddy of the DC coffeehouse scene." Tune in to nature with a day trip to the National Zoo, where you can see some of the most rare creatures on earth-including the Micronesian kingfisher, extinct in the wild for more than 20 years. Visit Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, two pandas who live in a state-of-the-art outdoor exhibit designed to mimic the terrain of their native China. Boutique shopping along 18th Street will put you in the retail groove. Browse for dresses at Violet Boutique, or get lost in one of the many nooks at Idle Time Books. Later at night, catch some riffs while swaying to salsa beats at Bossa Bistro & Lounge before a nightcap and all that jazz at the aptly named Bourbon. You'll return to the inn for a restful night, knowing you've struck the right chord in this quick-tempoed city.

Address:

Historical Civil War-Era Hotel on Georgetown's Circle

In 1836, a large brick structure was built in Georgetown, Delaware, on the town's circle, and it was soon converted into The Union Hotel. When the Civil War broke out, Union supporters co-opted the hotel as their unofficial clubhouse and would gather there before taking to the street to brawl with Confederate sympathizers. In the years since, the building also served as a county courthouse, a post office, and a bank before it was fully restored and reopened in 2008 as Brick Hotel On The Circle.

Each of the 14 guest rooms at Brick Hotel is furnished individually with antiques, such as period bedsteads and old-fashioned clocks. The Lazy Daisy features daisy stained-glass wall art, and the Mayor's Manor-a tongue-in-cheek nod to the innkeeper's short stint as Georgetown's mayor-incorporates a pineapple motif as a symbol of hospitality and a celebration of prickly fruit. In the original section of the hotel, a few of the rooms, including the Baker, offer views of the circle and a small fireplace.

After settling in, head downstairs to Brick Hotel's in-house tavern and restaurant, where you can enjoy a cold ale served with seared scallops or Maryland crab cakes.

Georgetown, Delaware: Charming Colonial-Era Town

Located in southern Delaware, across the Delaware Bay from New Jersey, Georgetown was laid out in a mile-diameter circle in 1791, starting with the town square. Historical buildings abound-opposite the Brick Hotel On The Circle is the stately white tower of the Sussex County Courthouse, and there are several more notable buildings within a short walk from the hotel. Downtown Georgetown is lined with shops and churches, including the 1794 St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

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

Address:

Without science, humans would never have conquered space or turned Atlantis into the world's largest water park. Salute scientific accomplishments with this Groupon.

$15 for a Museum Visit for Two (up to a $30 Value)

Current exhibits include The Academy at 200: The Nature of Discovery, which displays selections from the Academy's massive collection, such as a vampire fish skull, a Burmese python, and the 215-million-year-old jaw of an ancient reptile.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University 's rates vary according to attendee's age.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

By most people's standards, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is old - founded in 1812, it's the oldest natural sciences institution in the Western Hemisphere. But the Academy is a baby compared to the specimens it houses, some of which date back more than 350 million years.

Explorers Stephen Long and Ferdinand Hayden's series of western wilderness expeditions formed the foundation of the Academy's 18-million-item collection, which it began displaying to the public in 1828. Over the subsequent 60 years, the Academy grew to three times its original size through donations, museum purchases, and daily doses of multivitamins. Now situated at 19th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Academy houses more than 35 dioramas of plants and animals collected during global wildlife expeditions, a live animal center with ceiling-to-floor observation windows, and nearly a hundred mollusk specimens. A tropical garden hosts live butterflies from around the world, while Dinosaur Hall contains skeletal mounts of more than 30 Mesozoic species, including a 42-foot-long T. rex.

Address:

Early humans developed the ability to sprint in order to chase down sprightly prey and invented long-distance running to escape from slowly approaching glaciers. Follow in their fossilized footsteps with this Groupon.

$39 for One Entry to the Spartan Race (Up to $100 Value)

On July 14, participants in event T-shirts gather at Blue Mountain Ski Area to take off on the approximately 4-mile Spartan Race. Heats start every half hour beginning at 9 a.m.

Spartan Race

Seven extreme athletes and one Royal Marine banded together to design the Spartan Race's intense miles-long course strewn with more than 15 obstacles to test resilience, stamina, and strength. Clad in event T-shirts, runners collect smudges and stains as they clamber across mud pits, slide unscathed under barbed wire, and juke feral linebackers. Upon crossing the finish line, victors are awarded a participation medal and of-age competitors sate thirsts with a cold beer. The top three male and female runners each qualify for free entry in the next highest race level. Combatants compare fresh battle wounds-or scars from filing folders-as a live band plays catchy tunes and the aromas of warm, savory food (available for purchase) tempt grumbling bellies.

Address:

Every time a new idea crosses the mind, a new hair sprouts as the idea tries to escape the brain and patent itself. Keep thoughts in check with this hair-disciplining Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $25 for a haircut (up to a $30 value) and deep-conditioning treatment (a $20 value; up to a $50 total value) $39 for a haircut (up to a $30 value), deep-conditioning treatment (a $20 value), and a single-process full process color (a $45 value; up to a $95 total value) $99 for a keratin treatment or an Aveda smoothing treatment (up to a $300 value)

Women's cuts are $30 and up, a full color is $45 and up, a deep-conditioning treatment is $20, a keratin treatment is $190-$300, and an Aveda smoothing treatment is $150.

Bailiwick Hair Center

Relaxation and health are the core values at Bailiwick Hair Center, a complete Aveda concept salon that offers innovative hair, beauty, and spa treatments. Stylists and a nail technician rely on Aveda's all-natural, eco-friendly products for everything from stylish updos and professional makeup lessons to soothing facials and full-body waxing, so clients can feel good knowing they've been pampered with potions and tonics manufactured using 100% wind power and packaged with 100% post-consumer recycled materials. Stress-relief massages and balancing reiki-energy treatments further the feel-good vibes that radiate throughout the sunny spa space, leaving bodies calm and centered as they return to the outside world and its hourly rhino stampedes.

Address:

Contrary to popular belief, water parks are not where you take your birdbath for a walk. Set the record straight with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

$89 for an all-day park package for four (up to a $300 value) valid for entry during Memorial Day weekend

Four park admissions (up to a $34 value each) Dining package that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and fountain drinks for each group member (a $33.50 value each) Parking reimbursement (up to a $10 value with receipt) Game of miniature golf for four (a $20 value)

$16 for one all-day admission (up to a $34 value)

$62 for a family pack of four all-day admission tickets (up to a $136 value)

Splash Zone offers reduced rates based on guest height, and rates fluctuate throughout the day.

Splash Zone

Arms folded across her chest, the young girl rides a spouting cascade of water through the pitch-black tube, squealing with each twist and turn afforded by the snaking confines. Just as it seems as though the darkness will never lift, sunlight pours onto her face as she is spit out into a crystal-blue pool below. This high-adrenaline ride is the reward for being brave enough to tackle the Midnight Run, one of Splash Zone's numerous waterslides.

Nestled in the heart of Wildwood, the aquatic adventureland evokes whoops and squeals from visitors of all ages with more than 16 splash-laden rides and activities. The gentle ebb of Rivy's River carries inner-tubing guests along at a relaxed pace, and the interactive water playground in Giggle Bay ensures that the young adventurers remain hydrated thanks to a constantly tipping bucket filled with 1,000 gallons of water. As aquanauts explore the waters, Splash Zone's crew of certified lifeguards and sunglass-clad Saint Bernards remain on hand to ensure safety, and an onsite first-aid station offers remedies for a variety of ailments. Along with watery pastimes, Splash Zone offers sunbathing areas to facilitate leisurely tanning, and the Zone Grill where chefs forge fire-licked eats for hungry guests.

Address:

Seeing the world by bike beats seeing the world by bus, as bus tours are often ruined by engine exhaust, construction detours, and guides who deliver facts by honking them in Morse code. Enjoy the calm of a two-wheeled trek with this Groupon.

Choose from Four Options $29 for a 5- to 7-mile bike tour for two (a $90 value) $39 for a 12- to 15-mile bike tour for two (a $110 value) $49 for a 5- to 7-mile bike tour for four (a $180 value) $59 for a 12- to 15-mile bike tour for four (a $220 value)

Groups of up to 10 riders meet at the entrance to Valley Forge for weekend bike tours through the park and along the Schuylkill River Trail. Rides of 5-7 miles begin Saturdays at either 7 a.m. or 9 a.m. and wind along the route at a casual, recreational pace. Treks of 12-15 miles depart on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and cruise at a more challenging pace. Both tours include a complimentary bottle of water.

Hispaniola Cycling

Propelled by an affinity for fresh air, the family that helms Hispaniola Cycling fosters the same free-spirit mentality in its guests who embark on the outfit's bike tours, which include cycles and helmets. Hispaniola's guides are experts on the local topography, calling upon their respect for Mother Nature and a healthy fear of her mood swings to guide groups for spins around town or weekend jaunts through Valley Forge and along the Schuylkill River Trail. They can also expand fitness with wellness tours and camaraderie with corporate tours that follow custom routes around worksites, kick-starting employee heart rates a midday slump after they wrestle faulty fax machines.

Address:

Tattoos often memorialize significant events, but we inevitably learn that meeting Mark Hamill wasn't that big of an accomplishment. Help old memories fade away with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $169 for three laser tattoo-removal sessions for an area of up to five square inches (up to a $597 value) $259 for five laser tattoo-removal sessions for an area of up to five square inches (up to a $995 value)

Treatment begins with an initial consultation so the medical staff can measure and assess the tattoo, as well as provide realistic expectations for the treatment. During the 30- to 60-minute sessions, technicians chill the skin before it absorbs pulses of energy from a RevLite laser system that targets ink. The pigments then break down into particles so that the body can naturally dispose of them. Most tattoos take between 6 and 15 sessions to remove, though some inks cannot be completely removed.

Dr. TattAway, LLC

Co-owner and medical director Dr. Thomas E. Young launched Dr. TattAway, LLC with the understanding that tattoos sometimes present obstacles as clients change their lifestyles. Under his direction, a team of registered nurses and laser technicians perform laser tattoo removal using the RevLight system, which emits multiple wavelengths of energy that are absorbed into and break apart inks. To further enhance clients' skin, Dr. TattAway's team also offers laser hair removal that targets unwanted strands with the LightSheer Duet system. Free consultations precede each treatment so the staff can assure patients that their old tattoos will not haunt their dreams.

Address:

Like crayons, chocolate comes in many varieties and tastes better when unwrapped before consuming. Taste a spectrum of sweetness with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $13 for a five-visit punch card valid for one half-pound box of chocolates per visit (a $28.25 value) $10 for $20 worth of chocolates

House-made candies include chocolate-coated peanut-butter balls ($12.50 for 1 lb.), cashew turtles ($13 for 1 lb.), and mixed nuts ($13.50 for 1 lb.).

Reppert's Candy

Owned and operated by the Schell family since 1978, Reppert's has been quashing sweets cravings with an array of more than 65 house-made candies made fresh daily. Their 12,000-square-foot workshop transforms artisanal Wilbur Chocolates-locally made in Lititz-into cashew turtles, french mint truffles, almond bark, bonbons, and dozens of other decadent confections. Surplus chocolate is used for dipping pretzels, assorted nuts, and children who behave exceptionally well in school. Customers can browse the selection inside Reppert's retail shop, where staffers wrap treats in elegant ivory boxes or in packaging fit for an upcoming holiday, such as Christmas, Easter, and Louis Pasteur's birthday.

Address:

In the wild, humans learn to live off the land, foraging bushes for edible berries and rifling through tree trunks for squirrels' hidden smartphones. Hone your instincts with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$29 for one night of camping with tent or bunkhouse rental for up to four at the Lehigh River campground (up to a $78 value)

Alcohol-free, family-friendly campground with more than 100 wooded campsites and bunkhouses that sleep up to eight (padding and bedding not included) Proximity to whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and kayaking On-site activities such as sand volleyball courts, 330-foot zipline, and paintball target range

$99 for a two-day Pedals and Paddles package for two (a $247.90 total value)

Two days of mountain biking and guided whitewater-rafting trips along the Lehigh River Gorge (a $99.95 value/person) Insurance (a $4 value/person), wetsuit rental (a $20 value/person), and overnight camping at the rafting center

Whitewater Challengers

Whitewater Challengers' certified guides lead paddlers across the skipping surf of the Poconos' Lehigh River Gorge, the Black River Canyon, and the Adirondacks' Hudson, Moose, and Salmon Rivers. In the rafting industry since 1975, the guides have collectively led guests along more than 16 million miles of rapids. They chart courses that satisfy a range of experience levels, from beginning jaunts down gentle rapids to advanced battles through coursing foam and wicked currents.

The crew's ultimate goal is to make rafting a fun adventure, which means that they take care of the business end, providing all safety equipment, transportation to launch points, and lessons for novices. When not on the water, the outdoors-loving crew also organizes mountain-biking and camping trips in New York and Pennsylvania.

Address: