Summer Picnic Essentials + Outdoor Fun Blog Hop

I love picnics! LOVE them! Whether its by myself or with some friends, all I need is some good food, fresh air and these summer picnic essentials!

Summer Picnic Essentials:

Spring and Summer are the perfect time to have a picnic outside. The wonderful weather and shining sun make lunch or dinner outdoors so enjoyable. But if you’re not prepared, an outdoor picnic can turn from a fun outside activity to an uncomfortable mess in a flash. If you’re planning a picnic, make sure you have these summer picnic essentials.

Water Resistant Blanket

A blanket makes sitting on the ground a little bit more comfortable, but you should also make sure your blanket is water resistant. Even if you haven’t seen rain in a few days, the grass could still be wet from the morning dew. You don’t want to realize your rear-end is wet just when your beach picnic gets into full swing.

Picnic Basket

You’ll need a way to carry all your food, dishes, and utensils from your house to the picnic site. What better way to haul everything than in a classic, easy to carry picnic basket? I also LOVE a thermal picnic basket for keeping these nice and cool!

Cups and Plates

Lightweight, stackable plastic dishes are a great option for a picnic. It helps you reduce waste by allowing you to avoid using paper products, while also making easy to transport them to the picnic.

Utensils

If you’re serving something like a salad, don’t forget the utensils, including serving utensils. Lightweight, plastic utensils are the best option for a picnic. You don’t want to be enjoying your al fresco pasta salad with fingers…

Casual Food

The food is the most important part of the picnic! Opt for foods that are easy to eat and won’t spoil if the sit out for a little while. Salads, sandwiches, fresh fruits and finger foods are all great option for your picnic menu.

Drinks

You can’t forget to add a few cold beverages to your picnic basket. Bottled water and juice are great for a picnic with kids, while a nice bottle of wine works well for an adults-only picnic.

Condiments

If your meal needs condiments, throw a few in your picnic basket, too. Small packets of ketchup and mustard are perfect for picnics, in addition to salt and pepper packets.

Ice Pack

You’ll want to keep your cold foods and drinks cold throughout the picnic, so it’s a good idea to add an ice pack or two to your picnic basket or insulated cooler to keep things chilled throughout the meal.

Reuseable Napkins

Eating on the ground will probably result in a mess at some point throughout the meal. Make sure you have a few napkins on hand to quickly clean up any spills during the meal. Napkins will also make clean-up a little easier by allowing you to wipe your plates and utensils off before you put them back in the picnic basket.

Trash Bag

Don’t ever leave a mess behind when picnic is complete. You never know if you picnic site will have trash cans, so it’s a good idea to put a trash bag in your picnic basket to clean up your picnic mess when you’re finished eating.

Some of my favorite essentials from amazon:

1. Waterproof Picnic Blanket Extra Large
2. Portable and Foldable Wine and Snack Table
3. Large Size Insulated Picnic Basket
4. Silicone Wine Glasses
5. Stainless Steel Wing Corkscrew
6. Mini Cocktail Mixers
7. Pitcher with Strainable Lid
8. Pop-Up Mesh Food Covers
9. MINI Condiment 3-Piece Set
10. Earth’s Natural Alternative Wheat Straw Fiber Picnic Pack
11. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
12. Green-Nature Mosquito Repellent Bracelet
13. Insulated Wine Carrier Tote
14. Gourmet 5 Pcs Travel Cheese Set
15. Cloth Napkin

No matter what the time of year, I can’t say no to a picnic! Especially when there is good food involved! My favorites picnic foods? Sandwiches piled high with all the fixings, strawberries with whip cream, some sort of cucumber or potato salad, and maybe even parfait style dessert in a jar!

What are your favorite picnic foods?

I’ve teamed up with a couple of blogging friends to host this Outdoor Fun blog hop! Be sure to check out Bex’s outdoor reading guide and TJ’s post about walking outdoors, then link up your own outdoor fun themed posts below!