Plants and flowers take nutrients from the soil to grow, just as they take lollipops from passing children to feel tough. Keep lawns lush and candy-free with this Groupon.

Scotts Super Turf Builder with Plus 2 Weed Control fertilizes lawns and builds thick green turf with a 29-2-3 formula that also kills dandelions and other lawn weeds. Scotts GrubEx kills several types of grub through ingestion and contact while remaining pet friendly once grass has dried. This Groupon is valid at Kabelin Ace Hardware's locations in South Bend, Granger, Plymouth, Walkerton, Michigan City, and on East Lincolnway and Andrew Avenue in La Porte.

Celebrating its 100-year anniversary, Kabelin Ace Hardware continues its four-generation-old tradition of keeping shelves stocked with quality goods and customers satisfied with friendly, knowledgeable service. The shop carries a wide selection of home-improvement supplies, including hardware, power tools, and paint. The store's owners and staff maintain an open-shop environment and gladly help customers in need of project advice, product recommendations, or assistance ridding their yards of belligerent lawn gnomes.

New Boutique Hotel Steps from Michigan Avenue

Located one block east of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Ivy Boutique Hotel opens in May 2012 as the newest work from Arthur Minor, who designed The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. With swanky amenities including mirror televisions and theater surround sound in all guest rooms, the hotel seems poised to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Although the Ivy rises up 15 stories, there are only five guest rooms per floor, providing guests with a mixture of intimacy and comfort that makes it "the only true boutique luxury hotel in the city," according to HotelChatter.

After guests check in via iPad, hotel staff members personally escort them to 675-square-foot king suites. A paragon of modern design, the suites contain platform beds with white leather headboards and floor-to-ceiling windows that open. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring, along with organic towels and rugs made from thistle, help to reduce the hotel's carbon footprint. Guests can watch the flat-screen TV set in the vanity mirror while getting ready in the morning or practice Tarzan-style affirmation chants in the rainforest shower.

The Ivy is also in the process of opening an intimate 30- to 40-person restaurant and bar on the first floor. "We will try to use as much organic produce as possible," manager James Cazares says of his upcoming, reservations-only hot spot. A rooftop lounge opening in June will offer picture-perfect views of the city.

Located north of downtown, Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood hugs the shore of Lake Michigan, occupying some of the city's most desirable real estate. Its reputation as an upscale residential spot dates back to 1882, when wealthy businessmen began building castle-like mansions along the waterfront. For a glimpse at these historical estates, head to the Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive District, where you'll find a French-chateau-inspired mansion that now serves as the International Museum of Surgical Science. A walk down Astor Street reveals some of the city's most unique architecture, including the Charnley-Persky House built by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892.

Those looking for a hip nightlife will find trendy restaurants and nightclubs-many of which are open until 5 a.m.-catering to a well-dressed crowd. For people watching and the occasional celebrity sighting, head to Rush and Division, a see-and-be-seen spot dotted with upscale shops, classic Chicago bars, and diamond-encrusted parking meters.

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

Lexington, Kentucky has made a name for itself as the "Horse Capital of the World," but it's also home to some blue-ribbon bourbon. If you've been champing at the bit for a taste of authentic Kentucky, take off on this week's Escape to Four Points by Sheraton Lexington. You and a guest will saddle up for an overnight stay in a Deluxe King Room and receive breakfast for two, a $45 dinner credit, a bourbon education class, and a Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport ($121). Rooms feature king-size Four Comfort beds and complimentary high-speed wireless Internet. Start your day on the right hoof with included breakfast for two in the hotel's Cafe, then learn about the region's signature whiskey at an included bourbon education class. Your Kentucky Bourbon Trail passport will direct you to six famous distilleries-including Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, and Jim Beam-that put the Bluegrass State on the map. Tour all six, then mail in your completed passport to receive a Kentucky Bourbon Trail shirt. If alcohol doesn't stir your fancy, the area's stable of historical and equine attractions will keep you interested. Downtown Lexington is packed with museums, galleries, and shops, including the Mary Todd Lincoln House. Or, see magnificent creatures for yourself at the 1,229-acre Kentucky Horse Park, host of the 2010 World Equestrian Games. In addition to museums and events dedicated to horses, the park offers pony rides and more than three dozen breeds to see. Legendary Man o' War and his Triple Crown-winning offspring War Admiral-two of history's greatest racehorses-are interned at the park. Your day will end with dinner at the Cafe, but the memories of this blue-blood Escape to Kentucky will last long after you cross the finish line.

Scuba diving is the only way left to find hidden treasure, befriend a nautical skeleton, or strap a huge tank to yourself. Explore the possibilities with this Groupon.

During introductory sessions, divers learn the basics of scuba equipment and safety in a heated pool as seasoned instructors look on. Classes are held June 16 and 17, August 18 and 19, October 20 and 21, and December 15 and 16.

Broken down into three parts, the open-water course begins with registration and dedicated consumption of an open-water manual and DVD (not included), preparing soon-to-be-divers for a sequence of quizzes followed by a final exam. Five confined-water sessions get students acquainted with the equipment before they make four open-water dives in Gilboa Quarry, where they may encounter a paddlefish or sunken Grumman airplane. After achieving this feat, divers receive a certification card, which is recognized worldwide and enables dives in far-flung locales. Classes are held August 18 and 19, October 20 and 21, and December 15 and 16.

Just Add H2O's diving experts have guided students of all levels of experience safely through waters for more than 34 years. Providing diving certifications through PADI and NAUI, instructors chart progression from introductory diving lessons all the way up to advanced open-water certification, which comes with a license to ride giant seahorses. Just Add H2O's staff also hosts local and regional dives and leads trips to Lake Michigan shipwrecks, the cool depths of Gilboa Quarry, and tropical destinations such as Truk Lagoon in the Eastern Caroline Islands. To ensure that dives proceed without a hitch, the facility lets guests rent or purchase gear and can help to maintain used equipment.

When stranded in the wilderness, glasses can help you turn sunbeams into fire or look smart as you explain the inedibility of man to a family of grizzly bears. Equip your eyes for the great outdoors with this Groupon.

Brands such as Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, and Calvin Klein highlight a selection of designer frames and sunglasses, which start at $129. Customers may purchase frames and prescription lenses separately, and may bring in a prescription from another doctor.

Founded by Daniel Stanton, Stanton Optical has sharpened the sight of customers across the country with a network of more than 100 freestanding, independent stores. Each store's lineup of more than 3,000 frames fuses high fashion and secret spy controls, with selections from labels such as Nike, Coach, and BCBG. Board-certified optometrists remain on hand seven days a week to check ocular health and prescriptions, which can inform lenses or lightweight contacts from Acuvue, CooperVision, and Bausch + Lomb. Technicians fashion new glasses in the in-house, full-service lab, negating the need for long waits or earnest letters to eyeglass fairies.

Much like a joy ride in a muscle car or an exhilarating motorcycle journey, guiding an aircraft into the stratosphere offers an adrenaline rush few experiences can rival. Pilot your way to an exciting new hobby with today's deal from Eagle Aircraft in Valparaiso. For $161 (a $322 value), you'll take to the skies with a one-hour flight lesson -- including a ground lesson -- three additional ground lessons, and an Intro to Flying kit. Your certified flight instructor will provide comprehensive instruction covering pre-flight preparation, airborne navigation, and proper takeoff and landing procedures for a Cessna aircraft. After the flights, you'll enjoy an interactive kit that includes an instructional DVD, pilot logbook, Cessna 182 poster, and six month subscription to AOPA Flight Training magazine. Before you know it, high in the sky rides will be your preferred mode of transportation. Want more? Check out Eagle Aircraft on Facebook.