History frequently repeats itself, forcing entirely new audiences to suffer through itchy Victorian beach fashion and bemoan Alexander the Great's party etiquette. Witness more intriguing historical happenings with today's Groupon: for $12, you get family admission for two adults and up to four children younger than 18 to Colony of Avalon in Ferryland (a $24.50 value, including HST).

Colony of Avalon demonstrates the history of George Calvert's seaside English colonial village, which dates back to 1621 and has yielded more than two million artifacts in active archaeological dig sites. Families peruse the colony's partially reconstructed major sites in guided walking tours. Visit the Interpretation Centre to peek into interpretive exhibits that document the existential crises of rediscovered coins, farm tools, arrow points, and other 17th-century artifacts. The centre's six main digs invite adventurous eyeballs to traverse the areas where the blacksmith's forge and Calvert's own mansion once stood. At each site, visitors watch archaeologists and their field crews high-five Father Time as they uncover the remains of social and political life in the colony.

A behind-the-scenes visit to the conservation lab reveals the pottery-interrogation techniques of the colony's conservators as they reconstruct, catalogue, and preserve artifacts. Guests walk through recreated 17th-century spots, including three gardens and an indoor kitchen, which exhibits historically accurate, functional fireplaces, antique windows, and flagstone flooring. Historic re-imaginers augment Colony of Avalon tours with daily demonstrations of 17th-century life, from wrangling textiles into quilts to watching TV by candlelight. Before departing, guests can browse modern local crafts and historical replicas in the gift shop.