The cottage is a place to relax, to unwind, to rest. But it’s also a place to play, to forget your adult worries and become a kid again.
And there’s no better way to do that than with your own water park.
“A lot of people buy these for their children or grandchildren, but when you talk to them about it later it turns out that they’re having as much fun on it as the little ones,” says Jackie Schneider, who owns Indian River with her husband, Rod.
“They really are designed to bring out the kid in all of us.”
Water parks can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, ranging from one or two floating toys all the way up to something that would look perfectly at home at a resort.
“These are completely modular,” says Jackie. “You can add to them over time as it suits your needs and your budget.”
You may start out with a water trampoline, for example. Then perhaps you add a slide, or a runway. A floating barrel is great fun – just try running along one while trying to keep your balance. Perhaps a floating half deck or a launch bag is next. Before you know it, you’ve got the makings of a floating racetrack, something that will keep the kids – and the adults – making up new games and challenges all summer long.
“Water park toys are not just fun, they’re also great exercise,” says water sports manager Erin Gallagher. “If you need to convince yourself that there’s a serious reason for getting out there, they do offer a fantastic core and cardio workout.”
But, she adds with a grin, the reality is that they’re just fun. “And the kids love it when the adults climb on and get involved. That’s part of what cottaging is all about.”
Picking the right gear
The staff at Indian River has years of experience with all kinds of floating toys and can offer expert advice to find the best make and items for you.
Some of the decisions take a bit of guidance. For example, water trampolines are available with springs or with laces, but which is better? “They’re both good, but there are differences,” Jackie explains. “Springs offer more bounce than laces – although it’s not as much bounce as you’d get from a trampoline on land, it’s still quite significant. You can really launch yourself on a water trampoline!”
Trampolines with laces – also known as water bouncers – are often preferred for younger children, in part because the bounce is less. At the same time, water bouncers also offer a more stable lounging platform, so you may find that your teenagers are just as happy to be on the bouncer as on the trampoline.
“It really depends on how you see yourself using the waterfront,” says Jackie.
Floating and chilling
For truly relaxing lounging, of course, a floating carpet is the ideal. Here, too, there are choices. Lilly Pads are slightly unstable by design, offering the thrill of feeling the surface rise and fall as you walk across it. They’re also great to add to an obstacle course around the water park.
A floating island from Sunchill, on the other hand, is much more stable. “These are designed to be a place to hang out with your friends, enjoying a drink,” says Joan Watson of Indian River. Invite a few friends aboard the 12-foot Megachill, or just have a couple of besties – or be by yourself – on the eight-foot original. They’re lightweight, take less than two minutes to inflate, and pack down into a small carrying bag, making them ideal to take with you to the beach or to your winter destination.
For truly civilized relaxation, check out the Otter Island. It’s a foam-filled swim raft equipped with a ladder and built-in collapsible lounge chairs. “It’s a solid, stable deck that you anchor to the bottom – perfect for lounging in between runs around the water park,” says Jackie.
If setting that up sounds like a bit too much effort, not to worry: the team from Indian River will bring all the toys to your cottage and set them up for you. “You just let us know what you need and when you’ll be up, and we’ll take care of the rest,” says Erin. “We’ll even come back at the end of the season and take it down. All you need to do is show up and play!”
“After all, we are your cottage fun store.”
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
