Campground Review:

We stopped at Cliffside Park for a short visit to break up a long drive and were pleased with what we found with this county campground. The campground is located about 8 miles from I-41/94 so while it is a little distance from the interstate, the drive was worth it because the park was very quiet and made for a nice restful evening. I read where the attendance for this park was up over 40% for the 2017 summer and every weekend was fully booked so it is very popular. We camped here in early September during the week so it was not crowded and we didn’t have a problem getting a walk-up site. When we pulled in we noticed a sign saying “no dogs allowed” but learned that did not apply to the campground. However, dogs must remain in the campground and are not permitted to be walked in other places in the park which is a bummer.

The campground is a mix of those you can reserve or as walk-up sites. The price when we stayed there was $28/night, but if you make an online reservation, a $12 processing fee is assessed. All sites are the same having 50/30/20 amp electric, water, gravel pads, a grassy patio, picnic table, and a fire pit but no sewer.  Campsites can fit up to a 45’ RV, and while tents are allowed, there is not a separate tent section. Each site has water but in order to reach some of the spigots you would need more than a 50’ water hose so choose your site with that in mind. 

The park was really well-maintained with a camp host on site. The grass was mowed, there was no trash, and the restrooms were super clean and heated (as some mornings during our visit were in the 40’s).  There are some old trees that provide some shade but for the most part all sites are open and sunny. 

Pros:

·        Very quiet when we were there during the week

·        Good price for a long, level site with water and electric

·        Clean (and warm) restrooms and the grounds were very well kept

·        Lots of room between sites

·        Seven miles to downtown Racine

·        Easy campground to get in and out of

Cons:

·        Dogs are only allowed in the campground and not permitted to walk around other parts of the park

·        Roads were narrow and a little hard to navigate with a big RV.

·        $12 processing fee if you want to reserve a site

Product Review:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I occasionally get to review outdoor gear and clothing. On this visit to Cliffside Park, I received a Showers Pass Women’s Portland Jacket. The weather was on a roller coaster fluctuating between the high 30’s and 70’s so this jacket was worn quite a bit. My first impression was how much I liked the overall look and pattern of this jacket. It appeared really cute on their website and I was glad it looked just as nice out of the box. Before ordering I called Showers Pass because I was unsure of the size and noticed that “clearance” items (which this was on sale from $200 to $120) could not be returned and I was afraid that I would be stuck with a jacket I couldn’t wear because of an incorrect size. I called Showers Pass and the helpful person informed me they could exchange for another size (if it was in stock) or receive a credit. She then offered to help me with sizing. I told her my height and weight and she mentioned the model on the website was about my size but that the jackets tended to run small. That was really helpful advice and I was amazed at how willing to help she was. Click here for my video review.

I really like this jacket and think the overall style is great. Some of the features I particularly like are:

1.      It has lots of pockets. There are two deep pockets for your hands, an inside breast pocket and an outside breast pocket. There are also three pockets inside the jacket and a zippered breast pocket.

2.      There is reflective striping on front and back so you will be seen at night but it blends in well with the fabric pattern and style so it doesn’t stand out and ruin the look of the jacket.

3.      On the back is a drop down portion that is there to protect your backside from water if cycling or you can snap it up under the jacket if you don’t need it. I always wear mine snapped up and it doesn’t feel cumbersome or look weird.

4.      There are zippers on the cuffs and waist for comfort. The cuff zippers were very nice when it was cold and I had gloves on.

5.      Zippered vents are located under the armpit which is nice if you get warm and want ventilation.

6.      It is waterproof and machine washable. While this jacket does not come with a hood it is still nice to have it waterproof in case of light rain or drizzle. 

There are just two things about the jacket that I would change:

1.      The sleeves are a bit too long for me and because of the zippers it would not be easy to alter. 

2.      The forearm portion of the jacket is tighter than what I am used to. This seems like it will be a problem if I try and wear a heavy sweatshirt or sweater under the jacket. 

Overall, I really like the jacket and it’s the style I was looking for in a new jacket that I can wear on outdoor adventures as well as when I am out on the town. I get the feeling that it will hold up well and is high quality.