Beginning with the invention of the wheel and culminating with the rollycoaster, humans have always sought speed, which makes the appeal of slow-roasted coffee and unabridged haikus unexplainable. Seek excitement with today's Groupon: for $19, you get a one-day combination ride and waterpark pass to Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello (a $39.95 value).

Indiana Beach, with more than 40 rides and attractions nestled on the shores of Lake Shafer, delights nearly 750,000 visiting thrill-seekers annually. Six rollycoasters challenge guests with spins, drops, and the mathematics of mentally computing children's heights into inches. Classic rides such as the tilt-a-whirl and bumper cars tickle youngsters with antiquated charm, and Dr. Frankenstein's Haunted Castle spooks families with ghouls, goblins, and ghosts. The Steel Hawg delivers daredevils 10 stories into the atmosphere before plummeting at a 111-degree angle, a drop designed to kick-start hearts and uncook chickens. Guests can dip their little piggies in the sand beach and swimming area or embark on aquatic adventures on six waterslides that twist swimmers through high-speed turns before plunking them into a splashdown pool.

Several of Indiana Beach's restaurants serve sustenance for patrons who cannot live on adrenaline alone. Navigate the amusement park's map to find favorites such as Pronto Pup corn dogs, elephant ears, and funnel cakes, or delve into the Skyroom Restaurant's gourmet dinner menu. The Roof Garden Lounge caters to the 21-and-older crowd who may be interested in drinks, live music, and voter-registration tutorials.