Reviews by jps246

jps246 says "I enjoyed staying at the Acadia Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine" about Acadia Inn - Bar Harbor, ME

jps246 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:44:45 GMT

The Acadia Inn is located on Route 3 (98 Eden Street) just outside of Bar Harbor. The hotel is about a mile from the center of the downtown area. The hotel has an "ocean view" though you are looking through some trees and over the hotels that are on the other side of the road, up against the ocean.

Since it was November when we arrived, the hotel was not very crowded. We had reservations ahead of time, but at that time of the year, it did not seem like they were needed. The lobby area has the check-in desk, a small gift shop and then a dining area for the complimentary breakfast in the morning. Our room was on the ocean side of the building so we looked across the parking lot, across Route 3 and across the property on the other side of the road to the ocean.

We got a room with a king-sized bed. Rooms with two queen beds were also available. The room was your typical hotel room. You walked into a small hallway when you opened the door. The bathroom was to the left and had the sink...

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jps246 says "Good place to stay in Ellsworth, Maine - Comfort Inn" about Comfort Inn - Ellsworth, ME

jps246 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:05:48 GMT

While the Ellsworth Comfort Inn is nothing special, the rooms are decent, the bed was comfortable and overall for what I spent on the room, I thought I got a decent deal.

The Hotel is located along High Street (Route 1 and Route 3) in the commercial part of Ellsworth. This is a Comfort Inn and we weren't expecting much more than a clean room. We got that along with a pretty pleasant stay. We walked in without reservations considering it was November in Ellsworth and had no problem getting a room. Our room rate was $90, which was a bit lower than the Holiday Inn down the street.

That money got us the hotel room with two queen beds, a decently sized bathroom and access to the workout room in the hotel along with a free breakfast in the morning. We also got HBO on the TV along with the regular cable channels. The room was pretty basic, but clean and neat so we were happy about that. There was also complimentary wireless internet access available. We took advantage of it and everything...

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jps246 says "The perfect MP3 Player for the gym - iPod Shuffle" about Apple iPod shuffle 3rd Generation Silver (2 GB) MP3 Player

jps246 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:18:35 GMT

I have found that my silver iPod 3rd Generation 2 GB Shuffle is a handy little device for listening to music when I don't want to be bothered by my full sized iPod. This little Shuffle is small! It is about the same length as a house key and only maybe as thick as two keys put together. It weighs almost nothing and can either be slipped in a pocket unnoticed or clipped onto clothing.

My model has 2 gigabytes of storage, which provides about 24 hours worth of music (about 400 songs in my case). The songs are placed on the Shuffle through its synchronization with iTunes.

Since it is so small, there really are not that many controls on the Shuffle. You have an on/off switch which lets you either play the music song by song on the Shuffle or randomly and there's a headphone jack on the Shuffle. That's where the iPod headphones are plugged in. The ear buds that that come with the Shuffle have a built-in control that lets you forward, repeat and adjust the volume on the music. You can...

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jps246 says "Really protects your FinePix Z33WP camera" about FUJIFILM Fuji 600007925 FinePix Z33WP Neoprene Case

jps246 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:37:10 GMT

One of the items I got with my FujiFilm FinePix Z33WP digital camera was the Fujifilm Neoprene Sport Case.

The Neoprene Sport Case is like a protective coat for the camera when you are not using it. The neoprene fits snugly to the camera, which slides in when you pop open the top of the case. It protects the camera from all but the roughest drops or scratches since the neoprene can absorb a lot of energy before the camera is damaged. The case only weighs a few ounces and protects the camera with about a quarter of an inch of neoprene. The case is very snug. On the back of the case is a small loop and there is a mini-carabiner attached that lets you clip the camera on to straps or just about anything else.

The case works as advertised. When I have the camera in it, I do not worry that much about accidentally damaging the camera. I do wish that there was a belt strap on the case, since I tried attaching the case to my belt with the carabiner and it flopped around too much for my...

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jps246 says "Protects my FujiFilm Z33wp Digital Camera" about FUJIFILM Fuji Film Fuji Film Fuji 15944067 Finepix Z33wp Silicone Case (600008053)

jps246 — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:54:28 GMT

When I purchased my Fuji FinePix Z33WP camera, I wanted a camera that I could pretty much take anywhere and not worry about harming it. Hence, I got a waterproof camera and I got this silicone case along with it to provide some extra protection.

This case is just a thick piece of silicone that slips over the camera like a glove. The silicone is about a quarter of an inch thick. The case has openings for the lens and for the buttons and LCD screen on the back of the camera. It is not hard to get the case on the camera

When I use the Z33WP, especially when I am hiking, my biggest fear is that I am going to scratch the protective glass over the enclosed lens or scratch the LCD screen. For the most part this silicone case protects the lens, but the big opening on the back of the case for the LCD screen and the navigation buttons doesn't give much protection to the screen. On one of my hikes, I put the camera down and it started to slide and when I looked at the LCD screen, there were several...

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jps246 says "Explore Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower at Pilgrim Memorial Park" about Pilgrim Memorial State Park

jps246 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:25:36 GMT

While it's the smallest State Park in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Memorial State Park is home to Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II, two important pieces of our national history. The park is also close to several of the major attractions in the village of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Plymouth is where the Pilgrims first landed in the new world and set up their first colony. The park protects the history of the area.

If you've made your way to Plymouth, just off of Route 3 in Massachusetts, it's quite easy to find the Pilgrim Memorial State Park, just follow Route 44 to the waterfront and then follow the signs for Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. \

The biggest attraction in the park is Plymouth Rock. This small boulder is protected by a granite monument that lets you look down on the boulder. The park is also home to the Mayflower II, which is a replica of the original Mayflower that brought the Pilgrims to the new world. The park is adjacent to the Brewster Gardens, which are home to the...

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jps246 says "Home to American History - Minute Man National Historical Park" about Minute Man National Historical Park

jps246 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:12:17 GMT

The Minute Man National Historical Park is located in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. The park is host to the first battle of the American Revolution. I've visited the park several times, in the summer, spring and wintertime. I'd say the best is spring or fall since most of the exhibits and historical areas are open, but it's not quite as crowded as it can be in the summer. Though be warned, on Patriot's Day (mid-April), the park goes crazy because there's a reenactment of the battle of April 19, 1775.

The park is located in the towns of Lexington, Concord and Lincoln roughly along Route 2A. The easiest way to get there is from the Route 128/I95 30B exit, which is the one for Route 2A. This area is less than 20 miles from downtown Boston. There are two visitors centers in the park. The first is on Route 2A in Lincoln just after you get off of Route 128. The other visitors center is located at the North Bridge area in Concord.

The park isn't quite like a traditional National Park....

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jps246 says "The Brite Ice 10 Ice Pack Keeps my lunch cold" about Coleman Brite Ice 10 Reusable Ice Pack

jps246 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:51:29 GMT

When I'm using a small cooler and want to make sure what I have stays cold, I make sure to put in a Coleman Brite Ice 10 Reusable Ice Pack with my food. These ice packs are a small pack that can easily fit into most smaller coolers and it provides several hours of good cooling ability.

An ice pack really isn't more than a plastic container with a fluid inside that can be frozen and that's what what the Brite Ice 10 Reusable Ice Pack is. It holds about 10 ounces of fluid, which according to Coleman, is non-toxic should the container break. The ice pack is not that large and is the shape of a rectangle. It easily fits into the 8-quart cooler that I have.

When frozen, the ice pack will last for the better part of a day when you've got it in a small cooler and you're not opening and closing the cooler constantly. I find it's very easy to keep stuff cool from the morning to lunchtime, though later than that, and the cooling ability does tend to drop off quite quickly. I've used my Brite...

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jps246 says "Always keeps my lunch and or soda cold" about Coleman 8-Quart Cooler

jps246 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:44:43 GMT

It is sometimes nice to have a small cooler that you can keep a few drinks cold in while you're at the beach or when you're traveling. When I need something like that, I use my Coleman 8-Quart Cooler. This small cooler can comfortably hold half a dozen cans of soda with an ice pack or my lunch and an ice pack when I'm traveling somewhere and I need to keep my food cold. It's also small enough that it's easy enough to pack in your vehicle and the locking lid mechanism makes sure that the lid stays on securely to keep whatever is inside cold.

This is a tough cooler. It's survived drops and bangs without any problems and I've just thrown it in the back of my truck and it's done fine. There are a few dents and scratches, but no structural problems. The cooler is also pretty good at keeping things cold. It'll keep something that is cold, cold for several hours, more if you've added an ice pack. I like the locking lid on this cooler since I don't have to worry about the lid coming loose while...

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jps246 says "I like the 6-Cup BrewStation Coffee Maker from Hamilton Beach" about Hamilton Beach 6-cup Brew Station

jps246 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:24:42 GMT

I'm constantly trying to find the next best coffee maker for our house and that's how I found the Hamilton Beach 6-cup Coffee Maker. After some regular use, I've found some things I really like about it and other things I wish I could change, but overall I think it's a pretty good machine and for now, I'm satisfied with it.

The BrewStation has all the basics including a clock, a programmable timer, a water reservoir, and a filter holder. The difference comes about when you brew the coffee. Instead of going into a coffee pot, the coffee is kept in an interior reservoir that has its own heater. So the coffee is brewed hot and then is kept hot in the machine by the heater. From there, it's like being at a restaurant at a soda station, when you want coffee you put your cup in the machine and push it up against the pour button and the coffee exits the interior reservoir into your cup.

It takes about five minutes to brew the full 6-cups of coffee with this machine and the coffee isn't...

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jps246 says "Trims and shaves body hair easily - Bodygroom Shaver" about Norelco BodyGroom

jps246 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:19:18 GMT

I'm sure there's not a guy out there who doesn't have some body hair that he wants to trim or just shave off and that's where the Norelco/Philips Bodygroom BG2020 Electric Shaver comes in handy. This inexpensive razor and shaver lets you shave close to the skin for a smooth feeling or with its attachments, trim your body hair to various lengths.

While I don't think it's perfect, I've found the Bodygroom to be good for basic grooming. I also like that it's rechargeable so I don't have to worry about electric cords and that I can use it in the shower or when I'm dry since it works in both places.

There aren't too many details to this razor. There is the traditional razor head in the middle that will shave you right down to your skin and provide a fairly smooth cut and then on either side of the razor are more traditional clippers that will cut whatever hair your grooming basically to just above skin level. There are several attachments of varying lengths that let you take advantage of...

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jps246 says "Coghlans Mosquito Head Net protects your head from bugs" about Coghlans Mosquito Head Net

jps246 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:10:22 GMT

Sometimes the bugs get so bad, you can't stand to be outside because they are in your eyes, up your nose and climbing into your ears. In those cases, it pays to get yourself one the Mosquito Head Nets from Coghlans.

These mosquito nets fits completely over your head, even with a hat on and provides about as much protection as you can get from the majority of biting insects. It's not always the most comfortable thing to wear, especially in hotter weather, but it does work and it keeps those darn bugs from getting into your ears, nose and mouth. Think of the head net as a bunch of bug netting with an elastic collar that fits over your head and the elastic pulls tight around the collar of your shirt. There's enough play to fit loosely over your head, even with a hat on, but it can cling to your skin, so some people might find it a bit tight

I find these mosquito nets come in handy whenever you're out hiking in the spring or the early summer when the blackflies and/or mosquitoes are...

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jps246 says "Coleman Rest Easy Sleeping Pad is okay to sleep on" about Coleman Rest Easy Sleeping Pad (24" X 72")

jps246 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:39:14 GMT

While I don't think the Coleman Rest Easy Sleeping Pad is all that comfortable, it does provide some cushioning when your camping and that's pretty much what any camping pad will do. This pad is a closed-cell foam pad that is light and easy to pack and will insulate you from the cold, wet and or damp ground and won't get wet itself.

Coleman's pad is green and is about 24 inches wide (2 feet), about 72 inches long (6 feet), and weighs in at about 2/3 of a pound. The pad is made out of a dense, closed-cell foam material that does not absorb water and proves to be a decent insulative barrier between your body and the ground beneath you. The dense foam also provides a certain amount of cushioning. I've always found the pad is most comfortable when you sleep on your back and don't roll over on your side since my weight is distributed more evenly on my back. If you do tend to sleep on your side though, the foam tends to be not thick enough to really provide much cushioning. I've woken up...

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jps246 says "Will provide light for a while, Emergency Candles from Coghlan's" about Coghlan's Emergency Candles

jps246 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:58:26 GMT

There's nothing special about the Emergency Candles from Coghlan's. They burn a while, but besides that, other than being available in most stores with an outdoor gear section I can't think of anything all that exciting. They do fit some models of candle lanterns, but you I think I think they are a bit wide for some of the lanterns.

I've used these candles a few times and they work well as a stand-alone candle, as a candle in a candle lantern, and as a candle at home during a power outage. I'm not sure they would fit in every candle lantern.

The candles are standard, white wax candles that are about 5 inches long and about an inch and a half in diameter. They have what looks to be a standard string wick. The candles are 'slow burning' and will last at least 8 hours if you continuously burn them.

The vast majority of the time I've had these candles, I've used them when car camping as a candle on the picnic table as it gets darker. I have gotten them to fit in one of my candle lanterns...

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jps246 says "Will provide light for a while, Emergency Candles from Coghlan's" about Coghlan's Emergency Candles

jps246 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:56:39 GMT

The vast majority of the time I've had these candles, I've used them when car camping as a candle on the picnic table as it gets darker. I have gotten them to fit in one of my candle lanterns...

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jps246 says "The Whisperlite Backcountry Stove from MSR Cooks Fast" about MSR Whisperlite

jps246 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:06:26 GMT

I've always though that the MSR Whisperlite is a great basic backcountry stove that will meet most backpackers needs. It's very light and easy to pack and carry. That said, I think there are a few drawbacks and depending upon what you are looking for in a backpacking stove, the Whisperlite might be your savior or might slightly annoy you.

The Whisperlite is a single burner backpacking stove. The stove comes with the stove itself and the pressuring pump/blocker for the gas bottles. This basic equipment is very light, weighing in well under a pound. Overall the stove is simple. There are three base legs that connect to a burner and the gas line enters from the bottom, wraps up and into the burner and back out to the pan section. The pressurizing pump consists of a screw-in piece that fits in the top of your gas bottle and allows you to pump the bottle and pressurize it. The pump connects to the burner assembly through a metal braided hose that is flexible but not breakable. The Whisperlite...

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jps246 says "The Coleman Non-Stick Aluminum Griddle makes good pancakes" about Coleman Non Stick Aluminum Griddle

jps246 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:53:20 GMT

There's nothing better than some pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast when you're staying in a campground and since I hate trying to cook them in smaller frying pans I went and invested a few dollars in the Coleman Aluminum Non-Stick Griddle. This griddle fits easily over the two burners of my Coleman Camping Stove and with the stove's adjustable settings, it's actually quite easy to cook a decent meal on this griddle.

The griddle is made from a heavy-gauge aluminum that has a non-stick coating on the cooking side. There are flared up edges so that everything stays on the griddle. There are also built in handles on either end of the griddle. The cooking surface of the griddle is just over ten inches deep and just over sixteen inches wide. While it lacks the very consistent heat of a cast-iron griddle, for a piece of lightweight aluminum, I think it does a good job.

I went with this griddle mostly because I liked the non-stick surface. I use the griddle when I'm car camping and use...

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jps246 says "Just like your tent's originals - Coghlan's Skewer Pegs" about Coghlan's Skewer Pegs (8326)

jps246 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:39:27 GMT

Just through regular use, I usually end up either losing or damaging the standard metal tent pegs that come with my backcountry tents. When that happens I need to get some replacements, I'll pick up a package of these stakes from Coghlan's, which call them Skewer Pegs. While these pegs are cheap, they do a good job helping you stake down your backcountry tent.

The pegs are made from twisted steel to give some extra hold in the ground. You get six of the pegs in a package. The pegs are easy enough to push into the ground and have curved heads so that you can wrap your tent rope around without the rope slipping. The pegs weigh less than an ounce each and they are easy enough to roll up with tents. They are basically the same standard steel or aluminum pegs that come with some tents. I've used them as replacements for the original metal tent pegs that have come with a couple of my tents and I really can't find any difference between the original ones and these.

My Take

Easy to find,...

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jps246 says "works in a pinch - Coleman Emergency Poncho" about Coleman Emergency Poncho

jps246 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:37:53 GMT

I wouldn't use it as a permanent rain coat for outdoor adventures, but the Emergency Poncho from Coleman does come in handy from time to time and is a nice thing to have in an emergency kit for your vehicle or your backpack.

There isn't much to this poncho. It's made from a plastic fabric and is square-shaped. There's an opening with a plastic hood roughly in the middle. Just slip it over your head and the poncho falls around you covering up the majority of your upper body. It only weighs a few ounces and is very easy to fold up and pack. The plastic material is somewhat durable, but will degrade over time and it's easy enough to tear or rip if you aren't careful.

I suppose you do stay drier than you would if you weren't wearing the poncho, however it's not really a jacket and it doesn't fit you quite the way a jacket would and so you do end up at least getting damp in the process of wearing it, especially in windy conditions since the poncho tends to blow around and you aren't...

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jps246 says "I know I'll be staying at MGM Grand at Foxwoods more often" about MGM Grand at Foxwoods - Ledyard, CT

jps246 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:01:27 GMT

Located on the Foxwoods property in Ledyard, Connecticut, the MGM Grand at Foxwoods is a great place to stay and play and if you've ever stayed in Las Vegas and want to find a hotel back east that has the ambiance and feel of one of the Vegas hotels, you might just find that the MGM Grand at Foxwoods is what you are looking for.

From the moment we walked into the lobby, this casino, hotel and resort reminds me of the nicer hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.

Basics

MGM Grand at Foxwoods is located on the Foxwoods property adjacent to the original Foxwoods Casino & Resort in Ledyard, Connecticut. The two have a connection that allows for walking between the two resorts. They also share the same rewards program. The property is located in the southeastern corner of Connecticut about 8 miles off of Interstate 95. It is about 2 hours from Boston, 3 hours from New York City and probably about an hour or so from Hartford.

From the design and layout of the hotel and casino to the types of...

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