We tried eating on our beach towels once, but it became clear that picnic blankets are an absolute necessity. For one thing, it’s nice to have the picnic basket and picnic cooler in a central location. And if you have kids, you know how messy they can be when they eat – we wanted to keep our beach towels clean! We have an extra large picnic blanket, so there’s room for the whole family to spread out under the Picnic Time Umbrella and relax. After lunch, I love to lay on my Beachcomber beach mat and read a good page-turner while the girls build sandcastles or swim.

I like to bring a wide variety of food in our picnic basket. We have a few picnic baskets for 2 (for those romantic picnics), but I’ve found that picnic baskets for 4 work best for large family outings. For the beach, I like to use a traditional picnic basket or a Beach Bag Deluxe Insulated Backpack instead of a wicker picnic basket. It’s amazing how sand manages to find it’s way into a wicker picnic basket, and no one wants sand in their sandwich!

Especially on a hot day, it’s essential to pack your picnic coolers with refreshing beverages and plenty of ice. I have picnic coolers on wheels, but I’ve found that they’re pretty useless in the sand. Rolling coolers are better suited for the park, so I bring a regular picnic cooler for 4 packed with water, juice, and maybe some margaritas for me and Dad!

That’s why we always bring our own food and picnic blankets to the zoo and have a picnic, and save our money for more important things. When it’s just me and the girls, I bring a picnic backpack for 2 – it’s the perfect size for a lunch and some snacks for one grown up and two children. And there’s no reason to be uncomfortable – picnic backpacks for two are easy to carry, and most are insulated to keep your food from spoiling in the heat.

Picnic backpacks for 4 are much more practical for larger family outings to the zoo, so that’s what I grab when my sister and I go together. We load up our picnic backpacks with apples, crackers, cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a picnic blanket, and whatever else we want. I always pack water bottles in my picnic backpack, so we can stay hydrated without paying exorbitant zoo prices for bottled water.

Now, come lunch time at the zoo, you’re going to have to find a place to sit. Of course they probably won’t like you bringing your own food into zoo restaurant, so it’s best to find a shady place to sit outside. If you’re like me, there’s no way you’re going to sit on the ground – who knows how many feet have walked there? So we bring our picnic blankets and spread them out on the ground – just don’t forget your sunscreen!

What about you, readers? Do you like to bring a picnic to the zoo?

My collection of picnic recipes has grown over the years to include lots of kid friendly options, vegetarian dishes, and items for every occasion. We love to BBQ, so most of my picnic recipes are for side dishes. One of my favorite side dishes is a 3-bean salad with quinoa. I tried it out for dinner last week, and it was a hit, so I can’t wait to debut it for picnic season. Here’s the recipe:

3-Bean Salad with Quinoa

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces, cooked and rinsed in cold water
• 1 1/2 cups frozen 365 Everyday Value Shelled Edamame, thawed
• 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
• 1 (15-ounce) can 365 Everyday Value Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup 365 Everyday Value Organic Italian Dressing
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon

Method

Rinse quinoa under cold running water and drain. Bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil in a small pot. Stir quinoa and a pinch of salt into water. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tender and liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and let cool. Put cooled quinoa, green beans, edamame, peppers, kidney beans, dressing, tarragon, salt and pepper into a large bowl and toss well. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

We’ll also be doing a lot of BBQ, so I’m going to mix things up a little this year – I’ve got some fun BBQ sauces that I’m looking forward to incorporating into picnic recipes, like Peach Barbeque Sauce. Here’s the recipe:

Peach Barbeque Sauce

Ingredients

• 32 ounces canned peaches
• 1 1/2 cup vinegar
• 1 cup cooking oil
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Method

Puree peaches in a blender. Dissolve cornstarch in a little water. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Allow to cool.

I know my husband is looking forward to using his barbeque tools. Along with his Barbeque Apron with Chef’s Hat, I got him an 18-Piece BBQ Set, with all the barbeque tools he’ll ever need.

Are you trying out some new picnic recipes this year, or new BBQ recipes?

If you’ve been invited to a wedding, picnic accessories make fantastic wedding gifts. Picnic baskets for 2, wine baskets, and wine &cheese sets make wonderful gifts for a married couple – they’ll be able to go on romantic and sophisticated picnics together. If you really want to make it special, you can put a bottle of wine in that wine basket, and perhaps a picnic blanket like the Sunshine Blanket Tote. Nothing is more iconic and romantic than an evening picnic under the stars.

Picnic baskets and picnic accessories also make great gifts for the golf lover in your life. Traditional & wicker picnic baskets are great to take on the golf course, and an insulated wine tote or a Six Pack tote is a great way to enjoy some drinks during the game. The Ace Executive Travel Putter Set in Cherry Wood Case would make a fabulous birthday or anniversary gift for any golf lover.

For my mother-in-law, I know nothing could be better than a day gardening and a picnic under the trees. Picnic baskets and picnic accessories she doesn’t need, but an insulated picnic blanket is a perfect place to sit and sip some iced tea. The Gardener Seat with 5-Piece Garden Tool Kit and Garden Metro Basket make wonderful gifts for gardening lovers. The sturdy folding chair features a detachable storage section for 5 essential tools, and the water-resistant basket is the perfect thing for carrying flowers home from the nursery.

Picnic blankets, picnic baskets, and picnic accessories make great gifts for anyone in your family, even if they don’t live to picnic like me!

Picnic backpacks are a much easier choice for these kinds of trips than picnic baskets. With picnic backpacks, you just pack them, sling them over your shoulders, and off you go! And now that both my girls are old enough to hike on their own, we can carry more food instead of carrying the kiddos.

We load up our picnic backpacks with trail mix, crackers, sandwiches, cookies, and water, and hit the trail. The Cambria Deluxe Insulated Picnic Backpack for 4 is the perfect size for a family picnic, and keeps our food nice and cool while we hike. And it’s wonderfully simple to bring along a picnic blanket, because they’re compactable and light.

When we go camping, we always bring BBQ tools to grill up our dinner on the camp grill. We have several BBQ sets that are just the right size to bring on a camping trip, and fresh grilled burgers are one of our favorite camping meals. We also love to bring coffee, tea, and water totes to brew up some hot drinks in the morning.

When my husband and I head up for a romantic picnic for two in the mountains, we often bring our Caddy Insulated Wine Tote. This picnic backpack for two has plenty of room for some chilled wine and cheese, along with a picnic blanket for two. Nothing is more romantic that a romantic picnic in the mountains with white wine, grapes, and some crackers and brie!

To start off, I thought we’d talk about the basic picnic. How to plan it, how to run the party, and what kinds of picnic accessories and picnic furniture you’ll need. My favorite picnics are the ones where extended family or a large group of friends converge on a local park to enjoy picnic games, a big spread of food, and good times.

For a big group picnic like this, you’ll want to let everyone know to bring folding chairs, folding tables, beach umbrellas (if they have them), or other picnic furniture. It’s likely that some of the people you invite won’t have these items, and as the courteous host or organizer of the event, you ought to try and provide these things along with picnic accessories like music and plates, utensils, and cups.

When it comes to picnic furniture, we’ve got everything – I have two sets of folding chairs, an umbrella, and a folding table. The Metro Seat is pretty simple and inexpensive (and great for camping, incidentally). The Folding Sports Chair is a little nicer, and even has pockets on the side for drinks or picnic accessories. I would probably bring both sets to a picnic at the park. If the park you’re visiting doesn’t have tables, consider bringing a folding table. Put thoughts of your grandparents old card table out of your mind – I’m talking about a deluxe, compactable table that folds out to include four seats and even a spot to put a beach umbrella.

Picnic games are one of my favorite parts of big picnics. Picnic games can be anything from badminton and volleyball, to horseshoes or cricket, to simple card games. Ask your friends or family for ideas for picnic games, and use the best ones.

Today I want to let you know the benefits that a picnic can bring us. Though it appears to be casual event it has huge advantages associated with it directly and indirectly.

• Bonding: A picnic connects all the members to have an understanding about each other. As people find it hard to bond in normal days, a picnic provides a perfect place to associate with the family, co-workers, or even superiors.
• Fun: Picnics are fun events. Many of us are stressed out with monotonous work or vexed with a challenging relationship or even bored doing mundane tasks. A picnic acts as a change agent and adds a touch of life rejuvenating us holistically.
• Beauty: A picnic usually happens in the lap of nature thus bringing us closer to its serenity and awesome beauty. Nature itself acts as an open health spa by allowing us to breathe fresh air and generates a feeling of euphoria.
• Team spirit: Most picnics are loaded with fun games. Playing with new people allows us to develop team spirit. Each one contributes his part to make his team win. We work for a common goal and this indirectly makes us feel good.
• Network: A picnic is a gathering of diverse individuals. You may find a mentor to guide, a friend for life, or even your future life partner on such occasions. It is a great platform to find people who interest you. Relationships flourish, naturally.

I hope you will have lot of fun in your next picnic. Take an initiative to have a picnic with your family, co-workers or friends. Make sure to plan a picnic every quarter with different social groups. Remember a picnic well-planned with the right equipment will enhance your experience and becomes an event to cherish.

My friend – let’s call her “Lisa”, since that’s actually her name – was a bit hesitant about even going to the company picnic, since she didn’t know who she was going to talk to or sit with. But she had such a great time! They scheduled in during a work day, and it wasn’t required for anyone to even go. But about 80-100 fellow workers showed up. It was at the park, and it was a beautiful sunny day.

Her employers were there, dressed casually – not in their typical suits and ties. That was certainly a refreshing look for them. Instead of the dreaded “company speech”, they hired a comedian to entertain them while they ate. They also gave everyone a personalized picnic tote that they has customized by Picnic Supply World.  Did I mention the food? The food was catered from three different restaurants in the area, so they had diverse menus to choose from. And of course, there was beer and wine.

All of those things combined made for a lovely day, Lisa said, and she actually got to know a few really neat people from the office.

I think what employers can learn from Lisa’s experience is to try and give the employees what they want when throwing a company picnic. Work is work, of course. But there are times to let loose a little and enjoy each other’s company. It can only make the office more tolerable and even enjoyable!

This is really one of the easiest and most fun types of picnics to take part in, and the preparation is rather simple. Here’s a few pointers though, just so you don’t forget anything:

Obviously, mark your calendar when they come to town. Call the venue as soon as you can to find out if it’s General Admission or if it’s seated. General Admission is certainly your best bet for really getting into the picnic feel. Get there early, early, early so you can get your spot and keep it.

I recommend sitting as far back as possible, preferably under a tree and with a building at your back. That way, you can rest against the building and you also get some sense of privacy, as nobody will be looking over your shoulder. And if you sit far enough away, you’ll be able to hear the music yet maintain conversation with your picnicking partner.

As usual, make sure to bring the necessary food and drink if the venue allows it; some do and some don’t. If they don’t, not to worry, as many still sell food and drinks. But if they do, I’d recommend storing everything in a cooler, as these summer events tend to get very warm.

You and your loved one can sit back, relax, and enjoy the music you love while still feeling like you’re on a little getaway.

And guys: bring your own guitar and sing to your girl as a nice little bonus for her!

1. Bring extra drinks, whether it’s just water, soda, or beer. This usually works best if you’re not planning a romantic, secluded beach picnic, of course. If you’re at a beach in the middle of the day for a picnic, it’s always nice to be able to offer someone else a drink. What a great conversation starter and way to meet new people, especially if you’re new to the area.
2. Bring extra food in the totes for the same reason. Chips – small bags – are a great choice, as are small, bite-sized candy bars.
3. Bring a dog. Even if you don’t have one, borrow someone else’s. A ton of beaches allow dogs, and the dog will have a field day running and playing in the water. If the dog is cute (and friendly), everybody will want to pet him. It’s another fabulous conversation starter.
4. Fly a kite. Kite People are just cool, and everyone will notice you. It’s a great opportunity to have a little fun and maybe strike up some conversation.
5. Bring your mom. No, this probably won’t help you meet new people, but sometimes it can. Sometimes she’ll notice little things about other people that you didn’t. For instance, if you’re a guy looking for a special someone, she often notices the looks that last a little longer than most. You know, things like that.

Have fun!