Spacious Rooms Overlooking St. Johns River

The St. Johns River-which neatly slices Jacksonville, Florida, down the middle-is one of the only rivers in America that flows north. Along its banks, the Jacksonville Landing has been attracting residents and visitors for more than 20 years with swanky shops, creative eateries, live-music clubs, and more than 300 special outdoor events held every year. The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk occupies a prime spot directly across the river from the Landing and in the heart of the city's trendy San Marco entertainment district.

Each standard room in the hotel features contemporary and warm decor, with marigold-yellow walls and golden-hued linens. In the morning, you can head downstairs for a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast in the Wyndham's St. John's Cafe, then snooze peacefully in the sun while suspended in a hammock next to the outdoor pool.

Jacksonville, Florida: Sprawling City with Public Parks and Open Squares

Located in northern Florida 25 miles from the Georgia state line, Jacksonville has the distinction of being the largest city, area-wise, in the United States. This doesn't translate to vast expanses of pavement and canyons of skyscrapers, however. More than 80,000 acres of parkland lie within the city limits, surrounding visitors with lush landscaping and squirrel networking opportunities. A particularly nice park is Tree Hill Nature Center. Located five minutes from downtown, this green space is crisscrossed with 50 acres of trails leading through shady forests.

The neighborhood where the Wyndham is located, San Marco, is one of Jacksonville's oldest. Noted for its 1920s-era Mediterranean Revival homes-featuring balconies, terra-cotta tile roofs, and elaborate carvings-the area rewards sightseers with interesting architecture around every turn. As the sun goes down, head over to the San Marco Square, an open piazza surrounded by upscale restaurants and an old-fashioned movie theater.

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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Sometimes, you wonder if the grass is truly greener on the other side. See what it's like for those who live for the links with today's deal from Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run. Pay $89 to enjoy 18 holes of golf for two people, and you'll receive cart rental and a bucket of balls for use on the driving range (a $194 value). Tee up after 11 a.m. on any day of the week to face off against well-placed water hazards and bunkers on a par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus. With a gorgeous landscape of towering oaks and pines, this championship facility is a challenge for duffers and pros alike, so visit these Hilton Head Island greens to find out how the other half lives. Want more? Check out Golden Bear Golf Club at Indigo Run on Facebook.

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Unwanted hairs are like weeds that sprout on the garden of your body, and just like weeds, excess hair should be decimated with a laser. Vaporize rogue follicles with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $99 for three laser hair-removal treatments on a small area (up to a $420 value) $199 for three laser hair-removal treatments on a medium area (up to a $510 value) $399 for three laser hair-removal treatments on a large area (up to a $1,725 value)

See the list of available treatment areas. For best results, clients should schedule four to six treatments four to six weeks apart.

Though Allure Laser Center sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

Allure Laser Center

Allure Laser Center's attentive staff offers noninvasive, long-lasting hair-removal services designed to subdue unwanted stubble. During each session, a technician thins the treatment area's fuzz with a follicle-destroying light pulse, politely barring future hair intruders from the epidermis. Though the treatment may temporarily redden skin, the laser's cooling tip soothes body surfaces and minimizes irritation, much like covering a new tattoo with refreshing Altoid crumbles.

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Helicopter pilots are in constant danger of action stars climbing aboard their craft and throwing them out; kayakers, however, need only fear falling helicopter pilots. Steer an unstealable vessel with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options $45 for a two-hour, two-person kayak tour (a $90 value) $85 for a two-hour, four-person kayak tour (a $180 value) $119 for a two-hour, six-person kayak tour (a $270 value)

Experienced guides lead small, intrepid groups of kayakers on two-hour seaborne sojourns around Hilton Head Island. Marsh Grass's staff provides all the necessary equipment so kayakers can ogle the area's flora and fauna safely.

Marsh Grass Adventures

Marsh Grass Adventures' staff designs expeditions that explore their passion for the diverse ecology of the Lowcountry region, including Hilton Head Island. From fishing outings to leisurely kayak tours, the knowledgeable guides enlighten tour goers on the varied flora and fauna that litter the shorelines. The staff supports both catching and releasing or grilling fish after luring them in. During historical tours, the guides opine on the culture of plantations, lighthouses, and pre-Civil War relics such as antebellum hot dog stands.

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Dining out with friends can foster healthy relationships that might otherwise be limited to impersonal group texts or overly personal bath-time visits. Get a bite in person with a person with this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

$28 for dinner for two (up to a $58.57 total value)

One appetizer (up to a $10.59 value) Two entrees (up to a $23.99 value each)

$49 for dinner for four (up to a $106.55 total value)

One appetizer (up to a $10.59 value) Four entrees (up to a $23.99 value each)

$72 for dinner for six (up to a $165.12 total value)

Two appetizers (up to a $10.59 value each) Six entrees (up to a $23.99 value each)

See the menu here.

Island Grill

Island Grill's cooks shuck, flip, and fry a menu of seafood and steaks against the occasional backdrop of live music at this informal bar. In the open dining room populated with high-top wood tables, colorful neon lights, and a full bar, patrons pair brews with raw or steamed oysters and half-pound Angus burgers. The eatery's chefs also grill up steak and crab combos and sandwiches such as philly cheesesteaks. With flat-screen TVs showing the big game and extreme tree-hugging competitions, the eatery also serves as an ideal spot to get together and cheer with friends over a helping of sloppy fries and frosty libation.

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Beer, like soap, comes in a bar and livens up any shower. Wash your mouth out with this Groupon.

$65 for a Complete Beer-Making Kit ($135.95 Value) 6.5-gallon fermenter with grommeted lid 6.5-gallon bottling bucket and spigot Deluxe capper with 50 caps Airlock and filler stick Racking cane with 5 feet of tubing Hydrometer and stick on thermometer No-rinse sanitizer Brewer's handbook Half-gallon growler with cap $10 credit to be applied toward purchase of first five-gallon batch of beer

Savannah Home Brew Shop

Try as they might, home brewers cannot transform barley and hops into bubbly craft brews with the flick of a switch or a hearty whistle. For tools, equipment, and advice, brewers congregate at the Savannah Home Brew Shop, where they have been able to sniff and sample specialty grains, yeast, and malts from Crosby & Baker since 1998. Students stock up on shiny new brewing equipment from Foxx while scouring available brewing books and magazines for the up-to-date trends and tips. The staff at Savannah Home Brew Shop can guide novices through their first fermented steps with home-brewing kits, as well as starter kits and supplies for wine makers. Seasoned brewers load up on brand-name liquid or dry yeasts, and hoist bulk bags of dry grain on their shoulders as they try to outrun the sprightly Saint Paulie girl that just stole their stein.

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