Ahh. Summer in the Northeast. We all love it. But it pulls us in different directions. Our teens want to sunbathe at the beach. Dads want to fish. Pre-teens want to jet ski. And the youngsters? They want to be in a pool. And when they are around, the kids are pre-occupied with social media.

At Best Hot Tubs, our very own outdoor living expert, Bill Renter, knows how much we all love water. He also knows that, at a time when it’s hard to get kids to stop texting during dinner, we need ways to bring us all together. 

As experts in installing Bullfrog Spas, Best Hot Tubs has been helping families acquire their very own private pond of water — the backyard spa. Spas have become popular because they offer a special trifecta: they’re easy to install, easy to maintain, and cost-effective to run. 

However, the most important feature of a spa, Bill believes, is the way it brings the whole family together. “With the increased size and shape of today’s hot tubs, in particular Bullfrog Spas, a backyard hot tub can substitute as a mini-swimming pool, especially for children,” says Bill. 

What do Best Hot Tubs’ customers say about their new spa? First, that it’s an opportunity to leave technology behind to soak and splash together under a powder blue sky. While Dad and/or Mom enjoy the hydrotherapy of Bullfrog’s JetPaks, the youngsters enjoy being outdoors in a body of water that’s well suited to the size of their bodies. 

 

 

 

 

In fact, with no rush to beat traffic home from having trekked to the beach, marina or dock, hot tubbers have extra time to linger in their backyard spa. And, for example, as the first stars appear in the evening, finding the Big Dipper is a game children never tire of. 

Of course, hot tub enjoyment isn’t limited to younger children. When a spa is there, teens love to invite their friends over. Dressed in bathing suits, sipping cool drinks, listening to music from their iPods — with Dad and Mom at the barbecue — home is sometimes the “cool” place to be. 

 

 

For those parents who happen to love fishing, on days you bring home some trout, here’s an easy recipe from Best Hot Tubs outdoor living expert for cooking it on the grill — easy enough to keep one eye on the trout, and a supervising eye on the unfamiliar bathing suit-clad teens hanging out with your kids: 

Recipe

Place cleaned whole trout (or any favorite whole fish) on its own piece of aluminum foil. Sprinkle inside and out with a bit of salt and pepper. Splash lightly with white wine, and add a squeeze of lemon. Finally, dot with a pat of butter and loosely crimp the foil seams together. Grill for about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the trout, checking to be sure they are done. 

 

 

Bullfrog Spa, installed by Best Hot Tubs, is like adding a mini-pool in the backyard. Big dippers and little dippers alike enjoy stargazing in a hot tub.

Bullfrog Spa, installed by Best Hot Tubs, is like adding a mini-pool in the backyard. Big dippers and little dippers alike enjoy stargazing in a hot tub.

 

 

It’s a perfect day in a Bullfrog Spa when fun-in-the-sun lingers into evening. Now that’s some quality family-time.

It’s a perfect day in a Bullfrog Spa when fun-in-the-sun lingers into evening. Now that’s some quality family-time.

 

 

 

Bullfrog Spas have a digital temperature control range of 80-104 degrees. 85 degrees is very comfortable swimming water and safe for children. As a safety measure, so that children do not get into the hot tub when you are to supervising, be sure safety locks are installed. (These come with all Best Hot Tubs spa packages) Tip: When it’s very hot, if you’re not using the hot tub, keep the cover closed during the heat of the day.