Unique Ideas for Your Next Picnic

Since these ideas are “unique,” they go above and beyond typical ideas that deal with blankets, food and baskets…well, one idea is basket related…but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet.  Anyway, since I’m a big fan of the outdoors, picnics scratch me right where I itch.  However, I’m not a big fan of picnic preparation.  That being the case, I usually find a good location and come up with activities, other than eating.

There are plenty of sites out there in internet land that provide you with thousands of picnic recipes, but there are far fewer that offer non-food related ideas.  So, with this post I am filling an underutilized picnic niche, that being picnic ideas that have little to do with food. Besides, you know where to get good food, right?

• Location, location, location. Kinda a Jeopardy thing here with the answer coming before the question of “what are the three most important things when planning your picnic?”  A slag heap near a coal-fired power plant = a bad location.  The shore of a lake with water so clear it reflects the surrounding mountains = a good location.  Generally speaking, the better the view, the better the location.  A great place for an urban picnic is on a rooftop that presents a great view of your city.  Other great locations include meadows, along babbling brooks, in a rowboat on a calm lake, overlooking a ballfield in which your child is playing a game, or any place you consider to have a great view.
• Time of day matters.  To avoid the heat of the day, how about a sunset or sunrise picnic after you’ve chosen your location.  Or better yet, how about a stargazing midnight picnic in a hilltop meadow far removed from the surrounding light pollution…just don’t forget the telescope.
• Have activities planned…especially if a large group is involved, including  While the adults play Uno or poker, the kids will enjoy a rousing game of bocce, croquet, badminton, water balloon fights, or frisbee golf.  Board games on blankets is another great picnic activity as is exploring your surroundings with a hike or on bikes.  Fishing is another great group activity, especially if some of the attendees have never baited a hook.  Just remember to catch and release.
• Consider crates…rather than picnic baskets.  Crates double as transportation devices and small tables after they’ve been unpacked and turned over.
• Use nearby water to keep cool, both you and your beverages.  No, you don’t need to fully submerge to stay cool, simply dipping your feet will do the trick.  As for your beverages, the deeper the water, the cooler they’ll stay.  Just tie a rope to a six-pack and toss it in.
• Mason jars aren’t just for canning.  Getting a bit off topic, why are jars used for “canning?”  Just curious.  Mason jars are great for carrying and serving various food items.  Those items include various salads (chicken, potato, macaroni, anti-pasta, just to name a few), baked beans, dip and veggies.  And yes, they can still be used to serve your lemonade as well.
• Consider a picnic party.  Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or not guilty verdict, a picnic is a great way to party outdoors.  You could even have a theme for your picnic party, like a school’s out party (or back-to-school party for parents), a Stranger Things or Harry Potter theme, or whatever else you can think of.
• Pack your own.  Rather than obsess over what your picnic members would like to eat, simply have them pack their own favorite foods.  Nice and easy, lemon squeezy.You know the old cliché; summer will be over before you know it.  Before it is, get out there and picnic like it’s 2099.