Who doesn’t love dining al fresco? Warm weather, cool cocktails, and summer snacks are a winning combination. But you need not reserve a seat at your local sidewalk café because we’ve got a better idea. Pack up your picnic basket, round up the family, and let’s take this outside.
Location, location, location. If your picnic area doesn’t have public tables, find a soft spot in the shade and lay out a big blanket. Better yet, bring an umbrella and have your pick of the park. If it’s an all-day affair, you’ll be thankful you brought folding chairs. In addition to food and drink, pack sunscreen and bug spray as you would for a beach outing.
Picnics take planning. You wouldn’t want to arrive at your destination, lay out a blanket, and reach for a beer only to find out you forgot the bottle opener. Paper/plastic plates, cups, and cutlery are no brainers. Unless, of course, this is a festive outing, in which case enamelware sets are campers’ favorites.
If you’ve BYOB (or wine), be sure to have a bottle opener or corkscrew on hand. A cooler with 75% perishables and 25% ice is a good ratio to remember. Here’s another tip: pack your picnic basket and cooler backwards—dessert first (on the bottom), appetizers last (on the top)—to save yourself from digging around. Salt, pepper, and other condiments add the finishing touches to your spread.
If your party includes kids, make the most of a sunny day and bring a board game that’s fun for the family. If you’re feeling sporty, challenge the little ones to a game of travel bocce ball or go fly a kite. Later, sit back and watch the sunset.
