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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Group dining is an easy way to socialize and to encourage friends to accept the mouth growing on your back. Show off party tricks with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $13 for two bowls of pho and two boba smoothies (a $27.60 value) $25 for four bowls of pho and four boba smoothies (a $55.20 value) $36 for six bowls of pho and six boba smoothies (an $82.80 value)

The menu boasts 12 different kinds of pho, a brothy soup that includes rice noodles and meats such as shrimp and rare beef. Smoothie flavors range from mango and avocado to lychee and durian.

Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant

Warm sunlight flows in through a massive arched window and fills Thanh Vietnamese Restaurant from floor to vaulted ceiling. In the spacious dining room, noodles abound in a menu that features the snake-like carb paired with beef, pork, tofu, and myriad seafood in traditional dishes such as pho. Broken rice, cooked from fractured rice grains, lends its unique texture to various entrees, including a hearty one that combines steamed pork cake with a barbecue pork chop, egg, and shredded pork skin. Additionally, a lengthy list of sauteed tofu dishes satisfies soybean lovers.

While slurping noodly broths or a boba smoothie, patrons can turn their eyes to the bar counter, covered by glossy stone and illuminated by tulipesque orange lamps hanging from above. Backed by a gauzy white curtain, a stage positioned in front of the floor-to-ceiling window hosts live music and chopstick whittling on occasion.

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Massages quickly defuse tension, much like the moment when the bad cop turns out to be the good cop and the good cop turns out to be a great cop. Surrender to this Groupon to Healing Through Touch Massage located on University, around the side on Bachman. Choose between the following options:

For $79, you get a 90-minute custom therapeutic sports deep-tissue massage (a $160 value). For $49, you get a 60-minute deep-tissue massage (a $100 value).

Groupon customers may opt to upgrade to include an acupuncture consultation into the massage available at no extra charge.

Healing Through Touch Massage's staff hones in on knots with a tracing method that stalks pain to its source and triggers relief via deep-tissue techniques. Massage therapists ameliorate aches by pushing into lower-level musculature to loosen unyielding tendons, kneading the surrounding soft tissues. Ninety-minute sessions tack on an additional round of stress easing tailored to specific sport-related problem areas aggravated by a hard week at the office or a moderate week at the fireworks factory. Here, therapists work nimble fingers deeply into muscles, targeting areas of the body impacted by running, swimming, tennis, or jousting.

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Registered nurses use lasers to remove hair from the body, just as NASA scientists use lasers to remove Soviet flags from the surface of the moon. Win the hairless arms race with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $129 for six laser hair-removal treatments on one small area (a $450 value) $169 for six laser hair-removal treatments on one medium area (a $1,100 value) $289 for six laser hair-removal treatments on one large area (a $1,770 value)

Click here for a list of valid treatment areas.

Armed with a Sciton laser, an RN tech releases low-energy rays deep into the dermal layer to destroy unwanted strands at the root. Depending on the client's hair thickness and coloring, multiple sessions may be required.

Korman Plastic Surgery

From Cornell and Stanford University to fellowships in Glasgow, Scotland and Miami, Florida, Dr. Joshua Korman has charted the globe on his path to becoming a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Now armed with more than 20 years of experience, the doctor serves as an adjunct clinical associate professor at Stanford and puts his wisdom into practice at Korman Plastic Surgery.

The welcoming office boasts a lengthy list of cosmetic procedures, from rhinoplasty and liposuction to med-spa treatments involving dermal fillers and laser therapies. Each treatment is tailored to fit the aesthetic needs of both men and women with gender-specific techniques. Complimentary consultations are also available for those wishing to receive Dr. Korman's advice on how to correct aesthetic issues or remove cartoon anvils from feet.

Dr. Korman also focuses his energy on educating breast-cancer patients on their options for breast reconstruction as well as helping former gang members erase tattoos through Clean Slate, a program he founded as an effort to give back to his community.

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Watching paint dry can make people restless, especially when the paint covers a television screen or a car's windshield. Speed into nice nails with this quick-drying Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $15 for one mani-pedi (a $35 value) $39 for three mani-pedis (a $105 value)

Mani-pedis last 75 minutes and include basic trimming, filing, and polish.

MiMi 2000 Hair Salon

Armed with a pair of scissors, an arsenal of colorful nail polishes, and a waxing wand, the staff at MiMi 2000 Hair Salon aids clients in their quest for personal grooming perfection. The salon's comprehensive service menu includes treatments that transform the color and shape of both hair and nails. Mani-pedis with long-lasting Gelish polish that adheres to nails for up to two weeks resist scratches from daily activities such as tickling pet porcupines. The salon's staffers can also remove hair on the lip, eyebrow, and chin with artful waxing services.

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Though fake vampire fangs were originally designed to conceal uncleanly teeth, their waxy composition rendered them useless for chewing anything but dough balls dipped in water. Properly protect pointy chompers with today's Groupon: for $35, you get a comprehensive dental package at Right Dental Group (a $300 value). This Groupon is valid the Blossom Hill Road, El Camino Real, Hamilton Avenue, Thornwood Drive, Bascom Avenue, and Berryessa Road locations. The dental package includes:

Exam Cleaning X-rays

With hundreds of locations across the country, Right Dental Group represents a collection of oral-health-care professionals who deliver a variety of quality dental services. The collective places an emphasis on relationship building-meaning patients can confess their most egregious toffee-apple trespasses while receiving a teeth scrubbing delivered with precision and understanding. Each of the dentists is prescreened for a consistent record of excellence and the ability to efficiently locate a cavity in a toothstack.

A skilled doctor and staff will skillfully probe forgotten mouth corners, eradicating tartar and expunging plaque from bacterial lairs. The included x-rays will help uncover any oral problem areas that cannot be seen with the shamelessly naked eye. After treatment, clients will be privy to tips that explain the proper brushing and flossing techniques to ward off gum disease and tooth loss, ensuring tongue-stoppers remain firmly rooted to the rest of the skeletal system.

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Summer camp provides kids with lasting memories, adventures in the great outdoors, and the hard-earned ability to take instruction from an adult wearing shorts. Redefine authority with this Groupon.

Choose from Six Options
$16 for one day of pre-K summer camp (a $53 value) $28 for two days of pre-K summer camp (a $77 value) $39 for three days of pre-K summer camp (a $101 value) $29 for one day of K-8 summer camp (a $69 value) $56 for two days of K-8 summer camp (a $138 value) $69 for three days of K-8 summer camp (a $207 value)

Pre-K sessions run from May 15 to August 15 and meet from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. K-8 sessions meet 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday from June 11 to August 20. All children should be potty trained.

Pre-K summer camp for children 3-5 years old lasts two hours per day and uses Fuze's Move 'N Learn program to spark confidence and cognitive development. Under Montessori-style instruction, youngsters tackle math concepts, phonics, and crafts. Daily physical exercises hone motor skills with an obstacle course, rock climbing, and mini trampolines.

K-8 Ultimate Summer camps last 5 hours per day and give kids aged 6-12 a chance to burn off energy under the supervision of counselors and PCA-certified coaching staff. Activities include rock climbing, yoga, and jumping on trampoline courses. Kids also develop an appreciation for fitness during traditional workouts and strength training, including plyometrics and motor-skills-development exercises. Optional snacks are available.

Fuze Fit For a Kid

Fuze Fit For a Kid's noncompetitive camps and lessons offer courses that mix and match activities such as yoga, martial arts, and jump-rope classes. The Fuze staff believes physical activity bolsters motor skills, improves overall strength, increases self-esteem, and ensures the rescue of Princess Toadstool. The team of PCA-certified coaches builds on the sports activities with traditional strength-building plyometric and resistance activities, and they also work with individuals or small classes to meet the physical demands of special-needs students.

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Cozy Boutique Hotel in Heart of Sonoma Wine Country

West Sonoma Inn & Spa stands amid 6 acres of Russian River Valley countryside in the heart of Sonoma wine country. The stylish boutique hotel pays homage to its lush natural surroundings by incorporating design elements drawn from the landscape, from its color palette of warm earth tones to the lobby's vaulted redwood ceiling. The inn also seems to evoke the wine country's spirit through its pebbled wine garden, where burgundy-tinted oak barrels provide a makeshift wall for guests sipping reds and whites in lounge chairs. Outside, the neighboring 100-acre vineyard stretches toward the hills in the distance.

As the sun dyes the open California skies rose, retreat to courtyard suites, where you'll find one king bed with a Pacific Coast comforter, either a fully equipped kitchenette with bistro-style furniture or a sitting room with a wet bar. Take in a similar view from massage beds at the inn's onsite spa. There, five massage therapists administer organic treatments ranging from cleansing sea-plant facials to the Russian River hot-stone massages.

Sonoma County: Majestic Redwoods and Scenic Vineyards

Located about an hour north of San Francisco, Sonoma County's gentle climate and rolling landscapes invite year-round recreation. West Sonoma Inn & Spa lies within walking distance of skyscraper-high redwoods and the canoe-friendly Russian River. A 25-minute drive to the craggy Pacific coastline takes visitors to unspoiled beaches where seals and pelicans easily outnumber people, making for lopsided outcomes in cross-species beach-volleyball tournaments.

Russian River Valley's most rewarding aspect may be its rolling roads dotted with family-owned wineries. The wine pass included with this Groupon gives access to free tastings and discounts at 16 vineyards handpicked by hotel management. Many of the local vineyards specialize in handcrafted wines and employ sustainable farming practices. Sample the apple dessert wine at Graton Ridge Cellars, then head over to Hook and Ladder Vineyards to smell the cranberry and vanilla flavors of its award-winning pinot noir.

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

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The tortilla's thinness makes it ideal for folding, sliding under closed doors, and illustrating theories that the earth is made of corn. Exhibit A, with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $7 for a meal with two deli sandwiches and two medium fountain drinks (up to a $15.56 value) $11 for a meal with two three-taco plates with rice and beans and two medium fountain drinks (up to a $24.56 value)

Fountain drinks (a $1.29 value) wash down sandwiches (up to a $6.49 value) or taco plates (up to a $10.99 value) made with with carnitas, al pastor, and chicken.

The taqueria is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.

Lopez Taqueria & Liquor

The smells of carnitas simmering with peppers and chicken crackling on a grill drift from inside a convenience store. Those curious enough to find their way inside discover Lopez Taqueria & Liquor, where cooks warm tortillas to craft tacos. They also craft impressive deli sandwiches with Boar's Head meats and lettuce shredded by affectionate helicopters.

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All fairy-tale princesses have one thing in common: incredible flowing hair (no roots, no split ends, and certainly no mullets). Beautiful tresses don't exist only in storybooks though -- and with today's deal, you can look simply regal at a pauper's price: Pay $99 for a haircut, highlights, and style, plus a glass of wine, from Rapunzel Salon (a $300 value). Orang Kamkar and his team treat clients like royalty, pampering them with high-quality products and precision haircuts. And don't worry about encountering any evil villains -- Kamkar opened this Saratoga salon in 1998 specifically because he wanted to work in a high-fashion, cutting-edge environment that was also hospitable and friendly to customers. Let down your hair, and score some legendary locks. Want more? Check out Rapunzel Salon on Facebook.

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Tortillas that aren't employed to hold a burrito together wind up taking jobs as edible bibs or prop moons in off-Broadway productions of It's a Wonderful Life. Help tortillas be all that they can be with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $17 for $35 worth of catering $35 for a fajita fiesta package for 10 people (a $69.99 value)

The fajita fiesta package pairs create-your-own fajitas with Baja ensalada, chips, and a pair of salsas, while à la carte catering items include taquitos ($32.99 for 20) and burritos ($32.99 for 10 halves). See the full catering menu.

Baja Fresh

Following Baja Fresh's ethos set in 1990 as a healthy take on fast food, never-frozen meats sizzle atop the grill before they're tucked into made-to-order tacos and burritos. Grilled corn and flour tortillas embrace fish, carnitas, chicken, and steak, and smoky queso fundido sidles onto nachos and into burritos. Between bites, chips scoop up salsa made from farm-fresh produce rather than poured out of a can or fabricated in a space-age replicator. A complimentary salsa bar ensures no mouthful goes unspiced, and guests can scoop up their favorites as they await their dine-in, takeout, or catering orders.

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Much like silk, honey comes from an insect and makes for an attention-grabbing evening gown. Make a delicious statement with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $39 for a beekeeping workshop with honey and wine tasting for one (a $90 value) $75 for a beekeeping workshop with honey and wine tasting for two (a $180 value) $145 for a beekeeping workshop with honey and wine tasting for four (a $360 value)

During workshops, which are hosted at Poetic Cellars from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, attendees witness the basics of beekeeping, learn how to build a honeycomb foundation and hive, and observe a live bee colony-housed in see-through hives to prevent stinging. Beekeepers also illuminate guests on the processes of honey production, pollen storage, and wax building.

The experience transforms from a class to a tasting for the final hour, inviting students to sample wildly different monofloral honeys from specific locales or plants, such as star thistle, wildflower, and black sage. Visitors also sip wines created onsite, such as a pinot noir, bordeaux blend, and chardonnay.

Gerard'Z Honeybees

More than a century ago, an industrious farmer named Gerard enlisted the help of bees to pollinate his family estate. Inadvertently, the buzzing insects fertilized a new passion for Gerard, one that would become a family tradition.

Four generations later, Gerard'Z Honeybees' bustling hives create more than a dozen local and monofloral honeys from such plants as star thistle, orange blossoms, and avocado blossoms. Because the honeys are completely raw and organic, they maintain the micro-nutritious qualities often left out of industrial varieties, and they may help allergy sufferers to acclimate to their local pollen varieties.

Gerard'Z holds year-round beekeeping workshops and honey tasting seminars at local wineries, nurseries, and farmers' markets throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley. During the classes and tastings, bee experts demystify the process of maintaining a hive, and people get the chance to taste the difference between clover honey, buckwheat honey, black sage honey, and Doritos honey. Gerard'Z also helps to maintain the delicate honeybee population by finding homes for wild swarms or colonies that have built hives in unwanted places and might otherwise fall prey to exterminators.

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Putting your best face forward sometimes requires making your second-best face disappear in an unfortunate "accident." Create the perfect alibi with this Groupon.

$79 for Facial Package ($225 Value) Secret of the Stars facial-sculpting treatment (a $125 value) Anti-oxidant white-grape peel works to brighten and tighten all skin types (a $100 value) Helps reduce evidence of sun damage and aging

Richard Haxton's Transformational Skin Solutions

Inside Transformational Skin Solutions' full-service beauty emporium, a dedicated skincare specialist applies focused expertise to enhance natural beauty. Epidermal specialist Richard Haxton employs innovative and nourishing treatments that slough off dull cells without having to roll in the sand like a common python.

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Star athletes thrive during the peak of heated competition, which is why most college bowl games are held in volcanoes. Stretch the limits of your limbs with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $29 for 10 drop-in classes (a $140 value) $59 for 25 drop-in classes (a $300 value) $39 for $100 toward membership packages.

In a heated studio, yogis lead gaggles of students through the classic, intense 26 asanas and breathing exercises of Bikram yoga. Classes run every day-some starting as early as 5:20 a.m. and others as late as 8:15 p.m. Guests should wear light clothes, bring water, and avoid eating before class.

Bikram Yoga Santa Clara

The instructors at Bikram Yoga Santa Clara take Bikram very, very seriously. During the run of their 90-minute sweat sessions, students cannot leave the room or speak, and they keep still between asanas. Cell phones and other external distractions stay outside. It's this intense focus, concentration, and pursuit of self-control-however-the yogi Bikram Choudhury envisioned when he designed his namesake style of yoga.

As sweltering heat engulfs the room, instructors encourage students to explore the limits of their body and mind by guiding them through 26 postures and two breathing exercises. The poses are simple enough that even yoga initiates can perform them, but at a humid and challenging 105 degrees, the body begins to sweat almost immediately. As the class progresses, heart rates speed up and the flow of the poses demands every ounce of mental energy to maintain focus. Eventually, toxins flush out of the pores, tension stretches out of the muscles and ligaments, and the heat begins to enable practitioners to perform deeper movements with a diminished risk of injury.

Bikram Yoga Santa Clara has onsite showers for a postworkout cooldown. Students are encouraged to bring plenty of water, a mat, and a towel.

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For centuries, horseshoes have been associated with good fortune, which is why homeowners hang them over doorways and brides lob them at groups of their single friends. Get hitched with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $25 for one 45-minute horseback-riding lesson (up to a $55 value) $69 for three 45-minute horseback-riding lessons (up to a $165 value) $99 for five 45-minute horseback-riding lessons (up to a $275 value)

BellaMar Training Stables and Riding School

Tucked into the tranquil foothills of Mount Madonna, BellaMar Training Stables and Riding School educates students of all abilities either inside one of two arenas or on the airy stretches of the facility's many trails. Head instructors Elizabeth and Edie guide riders through every level of equitation-Edie assists entry-level riders with their hunter/jumper proficiency and Elizabeth instructs more advanced students on the styles of dressage and eventing.

New riders begin with private lessons, during which they learn the fundamentals of riding, from grooming and tacking up, to correct equitation and connection to the horse. Private lessons also maintain an overarching focus on good sportsmanship, emphasizing both respect as well as the importance of never spiking a helmet after a flawless trot. As riders improve, they can then move on to semiprivate or group lessons.

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In the outdoors, kids can turn a simple game of hide-and-seek into a wilderness adventure and an ordinary box turtle into the world's slowest go-kart. Nurture young imaginations with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $59 for a one-day kids rock-climbing camp for one child (a $119 value) $99 for a one-day kids rock-climbing camp for two children (a $238 value)

Each one-day camp begins with a brief nature walk, where kids learn about native wildlife and California's natural history from knowledgeable guides. After the hike, campers break into small groups of up to six-giving those aged 8-11 a break from the business-related discussions of those aged 12-14-and set up at the base of beautiful sandstone cliffs. Here, guides fit their proteges with all the needed gear, including climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses, and belay devices before kids learn basic rock-climbing theory and safely practice skills such as belaying, controlled rappelling, and how to avoid paying tolls to mountain goats. Camps meet from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at either Castle Rock or Malibu Creek State Park.

Treks and Tracks

Surrounded by craggy peaks, three men in bright-red helmets stand in the midst of wilderness, surveying the mountains around them as the group of hikers they're leading breaks for a snack on the rocky ground. This interface with the majesty of nature is all in a day's work for this trio of adventurers-Paul Mangasarian and Jakob and Daniel Laggner-and yet their passion for open-air exploration grows with each expedition they lead. Paul, Jakob, and Daniel cofounded Treks and Tracks with the dream of orchestrating excursions into nature that combine ancient means of travel, such as sailing, horseback riding, and hitchhiking on a centaur, with modern sports ranging from surfing to rock climbing. Though they focus on introducing novice outdoors folk to unspoiled wilderness around the world, Treks and Tracks' cofounders also strive to leave the awe-inspiring surroundings they visit as pristine as they found them by rigorously upholding practices of environmental stewardship on each expedition.

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Before man conquered his fear of water, he amused himself with dust sports such as pushing boulders off cliffs, wrestling tumbleweeds, and falling in the dust. Conquer the big blue with this Groupon.

$25 for an Introductory-Kiteboarding Lesson ($60 Value)

Kiteboarding lessons taught by local kiteboarders-each certified through the International Kiteboarding Organization-span two hours. Held on land atop the sand at local hotspot Third Avenue, classes help students master safely launching, steering, and landing kites. At the end of classes, they can opt to purchase a trainer kite and instructional DVD for a discounted price.

Helm of Sun Valley

Over the course of 50 years, the family that runs Helm of Sun Valley has amassed an inventory of top-shelf gear for wintry recreation and summertime watersports. Before stocking their shelves, the shop's athletic staffers take skis from Alpina, kiteboards from Cabrinha, and water skis from Connelly for test spins to appraise their performance. Standout sports gear snags a spot inside the store, along with apparel and accessories. Employees also rent out and tune up equipment. They specialize in fitting snowboard boots to feet, sometimes fashioning custom ZipFit liners by molding foam around arches. New kiteboard owners can master the sport by attending lessons, during which instructors teach basics on land before waving pupils onward into frothy crests.

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Herbert Hoover won America's hearts and votes when he promised a college-educated chicken in every pot and a kayak in every garage. Get a taste of the American dream with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $30 for a self-guided tandem-kayak trip for two (a $60 value) $75 for a self-guided raft trip for up to six (a $156 value)

Up to six people can pile into inflatable rafts, or pairs aged 10 and older can climb into two-person inflatable kayaks to float along the Stanislaus River. Both float trips are approximately 8 miles long and will last four to six hours. All equipment is provided for each trip, and though both options are suitable for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike, all participants must be able to swim.

River Journey

For 26 years, the friendly and knowledgeable rafting staff of River Journey has outfitted visitors with the equipment and know-how to navigate the meandering waters of the picturesque Stanislaus River. Departing from Knights Ferry, guided and self-guided groups in fitted lifejackets bob under the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi in their inflated rafts or kayaks, paddling with provided paddles or hiring a flock of unemployed ducks to do the grunt work. Adventurers then splash through Class 2 Russian Rapids-where their pictures will be snapped for optional purchase at the end of their trip-before floating between Two Bluffs, marked on each side by towering basalt cliffs where swallows and blue heron nest. Rafts continue toward Lovers Leap, a sheer rock wall with a uniquely shaped peak, and through the Throw Rapid after a sharp right bend in the river. Through Horseshoe Park and along to slow, calm swimming holes, three- to five-hour trips draw to a close at Orange Blossom Park after conquering 8 miles of the dynamic waterway and performing celebratory run-ashore dances.

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Adding sculptures and fountains to a lawn gives outdoor spaces a homey feel, like buying patio furniture or replacing the grass with shag carpet. Give your yard a lived-in feel with this Groupon.

$20 for $40 Worth of Garden Ornaments

Artisans brighten up landscapes with lawn adornments and handcrafted garden sculptures including a slate engraved with an inspirational Einstein quote ($26.50), a traditional cast-stone pagoda ($425), and a birdhouse locally crafted from reclaimed wood ($42.50).

Aslan's Garden

After honing his metalworking skills as a Marine blacksmith during WWII, founder Milton Williams opened The Shop in the Garden in 1958, filling a tucked-away courtyard with his original sculptures, whimsical metal decorations, and stunning fountains. In 1967, he hired Michael Largent, who continues Williams' work as the current owner. Today, the shop bears the name of Aslan, a dearly departed golden retriever who, like his brother Murray, served as the shop's in-house greeter and chief accounting officer. As visitors enter past handmade chimes, stone decorations, and fountains, they are greeted by the stunning view of a Spanish-style arcade and the warm canine smile of Aslan's successor, Yater. In addition to browsing inspirational knickknacks and outdoor furnishings, visitors can wander through the artists' garden, inspecting copper fountains, hand-cut glass, and original sculptures crafted by Largent and resident glass and metal workers.

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Aside from skincare, the only way to look young is to cut the eyes out of your grade-school photo and wear it as a mask. Get a glossy finish with this Groupon.

Choose between Two Options $1,399 for nonsurgical upper or lower eyelift ($3,200 Value) $2,798 for nonsurgical upper and lower eyelift ($5,900 Value)

A 20-minute laser eyelift nonsurgically tightens and tones lax skin on the upper or lower lids to create a youthful appearance by boosting collagen production with heat. Topical and local anesthesia ensure reduced discomfort during the quick procedure. Recovery usually lasts one week or less for a treatment that patients often use in lieu of surgery for natural results. The one-time facility fee of $500 for the upper and lower eyelift option is also included in the value of the Groupon.

Reviance Plastic Surgery

Reviance Plastic Surgery's board-certified surgeons and medical aestheticians work to improve physiques and complexions, drawing from an extensive menu of cosmetic services that includes skin treatments, laser treatments for hair and scar removal, injectables, and plastic-surgery procedures. Unlike the before and after pictures at pie-eating competitions, Reviance's gallery of before and after photos showcases tightened and toned outcomes.

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Tinting your windows is an easier way to maintain anonymity than stuffing your car into a ski mask. Cultivate mystique with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $69 for tinting for two back-passenger windows (a $150 value) $129 for tinting for four windows, such as the back-passenger windows of a van or SUV (a $300 value)

Experts apply light, medium, or dark tints (5%, 35%, and 50%) to car windows, aiming to block 99% of UV rays, protect upholstery from fading, and keep interior temps cool. In California, tinting front auto windows is illegal, so this Groupon is not valid for the driver- and passenger-side windows or the windshield.

VIP Motors

Whether customers are looking to buy, sell, preserve, or modify an automobile, VIP Motors' staff of car enthusiasts has the tools and know-how to help. The expansive inventory features an assortment of rides ranging from classic muscle cars to modern vehicles to ultramodern rickshaws. Technicians also offer a slew of services perfect for rejuvenating weathered autos or adding a personalized touch. Customers who are physically incapable of pulling their cars to the shop can utilize VIP Motors' complimentary shuttle and pickup and drop-off services.

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Luncheons were once a midday luxury reserved for upper-class ladies, film and theater stars, and commoners disguised as tea cozies. Experience historically guarded opulence with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$22 for a luncheon for two (a $44.90 value) $37 for a luncheon for four (an $89.80 value). Each diner receives the following:

Local-lettuce salads with herb dressing Local baked roll Old- or new-style california casserole or chicken souffle (a $14.95 value) Sorbets Glass of beer, red or white wine (up to a $7.50 value)

La Casa Rosa Restaurant

Bertha Campbell Cole stepped back and let out a satisfied sigh after making the final pink brushstrokes on the wooden siding of the 1856 hotel. She had traveled throughout Southeast Asia with her husband for years, but was now firmly planted back in her childhood territory on Northern California soil. The year was 1935, and Bertha's new stationary lifestyle meant that she could finally realize her dream of opening a teahouse. In forthcoming decades, the intimate space would sate the appetites of celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock and Beverly Sills, as well as many noncelebrities who simply liked ornately papered walls. Today, owner Charlie Shockey continues La Casa Rosa Restaurant's tradition by serving luncheons fashioned from Mexican-inspired recipes, local herbs and produce, and seasonally changing red and white wines. Chefs bake corn, beef, and cheeses into california casseroles, following an original recipe given to Bertha's aunts by a local Mexican commandant. Chicken and seafood souffles sail past antique dolls, pictures, and a gramophone to tables in the main dining room, or on their way to an outdoor courtyard among flowering shrubs and giraffes. Wines such as Ash Blonde-a French-Italian blended aperitif-chill glasses alongside domestic and imported beers, and a baby grand piano holds a row of sample jams and chutneys off to one side of the dining room. After tastings, visitors can order the local preserves, which staff members then pack into decorative pink boxes.

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Karate-belt colors correspond to levels of distinction: black indicates master, white indicates apprentice, and clear indicates vulnerability to dishonest belt salesmen. Learn a spectrum of skills with this Groupon.

$199 for One Week of All-Day Karate Camp ($399 Value)

Instructors gather students for five days of fun, intensive bouts of self-defense education. Camps-which include a free uniform-start on June 25, July 9, and July 16, and additional dates will be added to accommodate all campers. Kids learn the mixed martial art of kajukenbo, which draws from five disciplines to create a unified, all-purpose fighting style.

Sessions start at 9 a.m. and end every day at 2 p.m., with instructors watching over their charges until 3:30 p.m. to accommodate parents who need some extra time to finish vanquishing their own mortal foes. After the five days of camp, including one field trip, kids take home martial-arts certificates acknowledging their accomplishments during the week.

TKO San Jose

Through they only teach one style of martial arts, TKO San Jose's instructors work from a broad curriculum. The made-in-America art of kajukenbo combines the best parts of five different disciplines. Fighters fling feet in karate-inspired kicks, deriving their lightning-fast fistwork from Japanese kenpo and Chinese kung fu. The leg sweeps and throws of judo allow practitioners to take down much larger opponents, coupling well with the joint locks and manipulations of jiu-jitsu, which immobilize an opponent without throwing blows.

Inside the studio, black-belted instructors-from first through eighth degree-coach students of all ages in each in the five aspects of their art. Boiled-down martial-arts programs teach women essential self-defense strategies, and weapons training sessions arm students with the knowledge to effectively use a bo staff to defend themselves, most often by whittling it down to an actual bow and firing arrows from a safe distance.

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The need to "feel the wind in your hair" is best fulfilled by skydiving, though it can also be fulfilled by riding in a convertible, swinging on a tire swing, or getting sneezed on by a jumbo jet. Feel the rush with this Groupon.

$36 for an Earn Your Wings package with a Commemorative DVD (Up to a $79.90 Value)

This package gets Groupon-holders two 1-minute flights in the tunnel, with all flight gear and training included. Two flights-the time equivalent of three tandem skydives-allow plenty of time to practice an MJ--tribute moonwalk, rid the dust from gaming cartridges or pop the question to a significant other. The DVD lets fliers relive tricks and maneuvers for years to come, and a personalized flight certificate gets 2.5 hours of free valet parking. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.

iFly SF

IFly's wind tunnel simulates skydiving without plummeting toward the earth at 9.8 meters per second by suspending patrons only a few feet off the ground, sans parachute. Unlike an amusement-park ride, simulator, or a jump off a one-story house, the vertical wind tunnel re-creates the experience of actual flying, with professional instructors controlling the airflow the entire time and communicating with fliers via hand signals. IFly's cache of knee pads, elbow pads, earplugs, flight suits, helmets, and goggles keep divers protected during flight. IFly plans flights for groups of all sizes and occasions including birthdays, corporate events, and summer camps.

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Scientists agree that children are our future, which is why most children are sealed in time capsules with a flashlight and a stack of magazines. Give a child something he or she will really dig with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $29 for five 30-minute children's computer classes (a $60 value) $39 for five 60-minute children's computer classes (a $90 value)

During each Imagine Tomorrow class, five youngsters aged 2-8 learn computer basics through hands-on games. Beginning with a video message that describes the day's mission, kids become computer detectives, exploring the world of technology to prepare for the future and finally find Carmen Sandiego. As their mini HP laptops light up with the Imagine Tomorrow software, wee ones problem solve and use their burgeoning skills on virtual adventures to Internet Island or the Email Trail. They can continue to utilize their new skills from home with activities that link up to their lessons. See the class schedule for dates and times.

Giggle-Bytes

A former elementary-school teacher, Robin Brooke harnessed her experiences in the classroom to boot up Giggle-Bytes, a computer-learning program for youngsters. Determined to arm her students and her own four children with the necessary computer skills to use the Internet and instant message the Toys R Us giraffe, Brooke teamed up with Discovery Kids Puterbugs, a program produced by Imagine Tomorrow. The Imagine Tomorrow software is customizable for each lesson and academic level, so that kids who have never touched a computer can learn alongside techno whizzes. In both her traveling classes and her birthday parties, Brooke helps kids to build their social skills and cultivate teamwork while gleaning self-confidence, spatial skills, and the ability to navigate through the digital age.

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