There are few freedoms as liberating as being able to fly, which is why humans spent millennia inventing the helicopter and why penguins are so very, very bitter. Exceed evolutionary shortcomings with today’s Groupon: for $199, you get a romantic, 20- to 25-minute helicopter tour for two at sunset, with champagne and chocolates, from Adventure Helicopter Tours, based in Pacoima (a $490 value). The value of this Groupon includes a $50 fuel surcharge and a $45 airport fee.

Adventure Helicopter Tours provides a bird's-eye view of famous and historical landmarks around Los Angeles and Hollywood with quixotic tours that take off from Whiteman Airport. During the 20- to 25-minute Romance & Sunset Tour, a chopper greets flying pairs on the ground as the sun slowly slips behind the silhouettes of skyscrapers and palm trees. Couples clink together champagne glasses while soaring over the Riviera Country Club, Getty Center Art Museum, and the famous Nakatomi Building seen in Die Hard. Before the aircraft's skids touch the ground, passengers satisfy sweet teeth with chocolate candies while catching glimpses of the estates of such celebrities as Sylvester Stallone, Scarlett Johansson, and Big Bird.

To make the experience more engaging, the helicopter is equipped with two-way MP3-stereo headsets, allowing passengers to hear each other's comments, questions, and impromptu haikus. All guests are encouraged to bring a camera to document the experience.