Staying in a lodge is the third best way to get in touch with nature, second only to camping in a tent and calling a bald eagle on its cell phone. Answer the call of the outdoors with today’s Groupon: for $135, you get a two-night stay in a deluxe two queen room and a spa basket at Yosemite Cedar Lodge in El Portal (a $265 value).

Nestled 8 miles south of Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Cedar Lodge inspires guests with a peaceful overlook of the Merced River, its surrounding foliage, and looming mountains. Gold-striped wallpaper and canopy beds add an air of richness to guest rooms where King Midas once holed up to write his memoirs, whereas a spa basket mitigates visitors with gel, lotion, a scrub brush, and scrunchie. The sights of Yosemite draw tourists year-round, unveiling natural wonders such as glistening waterfalls and the monolithic rock formations of El Capitan. Retire indoors to unwind at the lodge's spa or family restaurant or engage in rigorous pruning competitions in the varying temperatures of an indoor-outdoor pool.