Most community centers are designed as landing sites for alien spacecraft, with swimming pools for drinking, classes for learning human ways, and a large group of friendly, outgoing members for devouring. Practice good Earth ambassadorship with today's Groupon: for $69, you get a one-month membership and a 30-minute massage (a $150 value) at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City.

For more than six decades, the Peninsula Jewish Community Center has welcomed people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds to its extraordinary facilities in an effort to improve members' health and knowledge while shoring up community ties. Kick off your membership with a 30-minute massage, during which an experienced massage therapist will knead away work worries and lingering thumb-wrestling injuries with one of 11 styles, including Thai, shiatsu, and lymphatic drainage. Once your goosies are sufficiently loosied, you'll be free to exercise amid the forest of machines in the 50,000-square-foot Byer Athletic Center. More than 100 group exercise classes make it easy to find a fun new path to fitness, be it yoga, spinning, kickboxing, or tai chi. Some classes require a fee, but many are free to members. Dedicated dolphin-people and the spontaneously combustible can both submerge themselves in the indoor and outdoor pools of the aquatics complex before stewing off stress in the bubbling broth of a whirlpool jacuzzi. Members also pay special rates for extras such as childcare, concerts and events, classes for adults and kids, spa services, and workshops in the dedicated Pilates studio.

Reviews

Yelpers give the Peninsula Jewish Community Center an average of 4.5 stars:

• Between the gym, yoga classes, and the pool, I could stay there all day and have fun the entire time – Lynne W.
• I have been a member of the PJCC for about a month now and I love it. The place is always clean and the staff is always friendly. – Lisa M.