Helicopter pilots are in constant danger of action stars climbing aboard their craft and throwing them out; kayakers, however, need only fear falling helicopter pilots. Steer an unstealable vessel with today's Groupon: for $30, you get a three-hour kayak tour on the Hudson River from Mountain Valley Guides (up to a $65 value). Trips begin at launch sites in Hastings-on-Hudson and Cornwall-on-Hudson.

With a host of guided tours and a roster of experienced kayak sages, Mountain Valley Guides facilitates fun and adventurous floats for paddle wielders of all levels and abilities. Seafarers will be outfitted with a kayak and all the necessary gear before setting off on a three-hour tour of the Hudson’s scenic waters and accompanying wildlife. Just a few paddle-lengths away from the Hastings Metro North station, the Hastings trip promises stunning views of the New York City skyline, New Jersey's Palisades Cliffs—which rise 350-550 feet above the water—and A cappella rock groups warbling on the shoreline.

The Cornwall trip showcases Storm King Mountain vistas as paddlers scull through Cornwall Bay to the beaches of Stony Point. Tour-goers can also catch bald-eagle sightings at Plum Point and take in the open greenery of the Hudson Highlands. Tours typically support groups of 8–20 kayakers, and boaters receive personal instruction in honing their strokes and trolling for lily pads. Check the schedule to reserve one of the three-hour trips offered.