After "first-person" traffic reporting failed due to anchors' expletive-laced dispatches from the middle of 10-car-thick jams, news teams turned to the helicopter for a better vantage point. Gain a hovering overview of traffic-less vistas with today's Groupon: for $127, you get a helicopter tour of Capitola or Elkhorn for up to three people from Specialized Helicopters, located in Watsonville (up to a $255 value).

Specialized Helicopters maintains an unsullied safety record while elevating the aeronautically inclined with whirly-bird's-eye views of the Monterey Bay area. The 15-minute Capitola tour bestows passengers with 24 miles of stunning aerial views of crystal-clear waters, lush landscapes, and exclusive cloud beaches. Certified pilots with a minimum of 300 hours of flight experience first coast over the Pajaro watershed and dunes before flitting past the sunny landscapes of Rio del Mar and Aptos, pausing momentarily to keep a vigilant sentry for sand-castle burglary. Then, hover-tourists glide briefly over the cement boat before soaring to Capitola for scenic views of East Cliff Drive and Monterey Bay's north side. The Elkhorn Slough tour, also 15 minutes in length, takes passengers to one of California's largest wetland areas, highlighted by sea life such as seals, sea otters, and shorebirds. Schedule a night flight to behold spectacular city lights and flashy moonbeam raves. Flights depart from and return to Watsonville Airport, and free pickup is available within 12 miles of the airport.