I'm A Groupon Junkie

I realized I was a GROUPON JUNKIE when I tried unsubscribing from the daily Groupon emails and immediately was consumed with fear.  Fear that I would miss a promo code, fear that there was some new adventure I would miss, fear that there was a spa treatment I didn't know about.

I shared my 2014 Groupons in a previous blog -- The Year of Groupon Adventures -- where I did a deprivation tank session and took a plane ride.

In 2015, I mixed up my Groupon adventures, some sightseeing (Orlando Eye, SeaLife Aquarium, Skeletons:  Animals Unveiled), some water adventures (CraigCat tour and paddleboarding) and some health and beauty (Fascial stretch therapy).

Brian and I bundled several Groupons into a day trip in Orlando.  We took a ride on the Orlando Eye, walked through the SeaLife Aquarium and toured a Skeleton museum...all three were in the same block.  The Orlando Eye was a smooth easy ride and the view was great.  The SeaLife Aquarium was geared more for kids, but the "behind the scenes" tour was a highlight for me.  The Skeleton museum was very interesting and educational.  I liked it more than I want to admit.  Three places I probably won't have gone to without a Groupon.

My Groupon water adventures consisted of paddleboarding on the Wekiva River and touring Lake Dora on a CraigCat.  The padleboarding Groupon was for a 90 minute lesson and tour.  I thought I would need 85 minutes of lessons leaving 5 minutes for the tour.  I was more nervous about being able to stand up on the paddleboard without falling, than I was about what might be in the water (alligators and snakes).  There were 5 people and 1 instructor, Dave.  Dave helped each of us onto the paddleboard and said to kneel on it and paddle around until everyone was out in the water.  Then he talked each of us through standing up and centering ourselves on the board.  Within 10 minutes we were standing and ready for the tour.  We paddled up the Wekiva River for about a mile.  It is a beautiful serene area and we were the only people on the water.  I saw no alligators and better yet no snakes.  I saw a bald eagle soaring overhead, plus lots of other birds.  Paddleboarding on the calm water was fun and easy.

I got Brian to come with me on my next  Groupon water adventure...a CraigCat tour of Lake Dora.  What's a CraigCat?  Visualize aluminum folding chairs strapped down to two paddleboards with an outboard motor attached.  Actually, the CraigCat is very stable, lightweight and FAST.  The tour was slow while cruising through the Dora Canal, but there were times when we let loose in the open water.

For my "spa" adventures, I purchased a Fascial Stretch Therapy session at Pure Performance Group.  The stretch therapy was done by Sondi, a personal trainer.  It felt like a combination assisted yoga and massage...great for flexibility and relief of sore muscles.  I liked the stretch experience so much that I bought a package and go back every month.  At one of my recent visits, I tried the Cryotherapy Tank.  Yes, I left the cold winters in Ohio to PAY to spend 2 1/2 minutes exposed to below zero temperatures.  It was fun, but I think I will stick with the stretch therapy.

Brian and I ended the year with a Groupon for a tour at the Gold Gypsy Horse Farm.  The day couldn't have been nicer.  The tour included a talk by owner Dennis Thompson and a walking tour around the property.  The Gypsy Vanner horses have a colorful history and are beautiful.  I can see why the horse farm tour is TripAdvisor's #1 Thing to Do in Ocala, Florida.

2016 is a new year and Brian and I have already started some Groupon adventures, but those will have to wait for next year's blog review!