There's something inherently romantic about dining al fresco, surrounded by nature, with the sun kissing your skin and the sound of birds chirping in the background. A picnic date is a perfect way to enjoy quality time with your significant other, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable picnic date, from what to do and pack to delicious picnic food ideas.
Whether it's your first date or thousandth, a picnic date offers a delightful and intimate experience.
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How to Plan a Picnic Date
From figuring out what to bring on your picnic date to scouting a perfect location, put some thought into your plan. This attention to detail will help you to be in the moment and enjoy the company without worrying about the details. Here are some of my best tips for planning that special date.
Step 1: Scout the perfect spot
This sets the tone for your date. Choose a location that ideally has a flat area where you can lay down a blanket to sit on, and perhaps has some shade, too. Consider a more secluded area to make it even more romantic. And let’s not remember you will want this spot to be easily accessible to restrooms and shade.
Step 2: Plan the Perfect Picnic Food
Your best bet is sticking to foods that can be served and eaten at room temperature. Anything you can eat with your hands is even better. Keeping it simple like using few utensils is key, although one can still have a sophisticated menu with these things in mind. Read the section below for picnic food ideas and recipes.
Step 3: Brainstorm picnic date activities
Along with enjoying each other's company through sharing picnic foods, plan one or two activities you can do together. Here is a start for your brainstorm list:
Relax and Chat:
Use this time to have meaningful conversations and learn more about or reconnect with each other. Unsure how to jump into conversation? Comment about something in your picnic environment. “Have you been here before?” or “What are some of your favorite spots around here?”
Maybe this is a date with your spouse or partner of many years, think about questions to get you beyond your normal topics. A favorite of mine is “What gives you hope about the future?” or “If there’s one daily habit that you would like me to do every day that would make you 10 times happier, what would it be? “ For me it is having my husband bring me my coffee when I first wake up – it’s such a pleasant and warm way to begin the day.
From here, you can quickly segue into broader conversations about the area, food (a favorite of mine), travel, or another topic.
Other activities
- Play Games: Bring along a deck of cards, a frisbee, or a board game for some playful fun.
- Enjoy the Surroundings: Take a walk, explore the area, or simply lay back and enjoy the scenery.
- Listen to Music: Bring a portable speaker and create a playlist of your favorite songs to set the mood.
- Read together: For some couples, reading aloud to each other can be very romantic. It all depends on the couple. Think about books that are easy to absorb together in a short time period or one’s that might give you a reason to plan another reading date.
A few that pop to mind for me are Endurance: Shackleton’s incredible Voyage, a non-fiction story that’s mind-boggling – where truth is stranger than fiction and it’s a perfect couples read.
Another consideration is All Creatures Great and Small. You cannot go wrong with a James Herriot book, a country vet in England who spends his days caring for farm animals and house pets after WWI. Sweet and funny and just right for snuggling up. Bonus, you can watch the PBS Masterpiece series after you’re done!
Step 4: Pack the Essentials
Before heading off for your picnic date, make sure you've packed all the essentials—including a basket full of food and drinks, utensils, plates and cups, a picnic blanket and small pillows. Also keep some hand wipes or antibacterial gel available, as well as bug spray, sunscreen and perhaps a portable speaker for some light background music.
Here's my checklist:
- Picnic Blanket: A large, comfortable blanket to sit on.
- Portable Cooler or Picnic Basket: To keep your food and drinks fresh.
- Reusable Utensils and Plates: Eco-friendly and easy to pack.
- Napkins and Wet Wipes: For easy clean-up.
- Trash Bag: Leave no trace.
- Sunscreen and Bug Spray: For protection against the elements.
- A Good Book or Magazine: For some quiet reading time.
Picnic Food Ideas
The star of the show is, of course, the food. Here are some delicious and easy-to-pack picnic food ideas:
Finger Foods:
- Sandwiches or wraps like Mini English cucumber cream cheese and dill sandwiches, Turkey Avocado Bacon with Gochujang mayo or Roasted Turkey with spiced blueberry jam.
- Cheese and charcuterie board with a variety of cheeses, cured meats, nuts, and crackers.
- Fresh fruits such as berries, grapes, and apple slices.
Salads:
Packing salads into individual 8 ounce mason jars makes them not only picnic portable but a beautiful presentation.
- This cold wild rice salad recipe is bursting with flavors of sweet crisp apples, cranberries, celery, green onion and bell pepper tossed in a curry yogurt-mayo dressing. It’s simple, hearty and full of flavor in every bite.
- Jennifer Aniston’s Salad with quinoa or bulgar, cucumber, fresh herbs, pistachios, chickpeas and feta cheese all tossed in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing. For a delightful presentation, layer the salad in wide mouth mason jars for a portable and delicious treat.
- Ramen noodle salad - The cabbage slaw, toasted ramen noodles and sesame dressing of this Midwest classic lends well to mixing and matching any combination of salad add-ins. Warning, this Asian Ramen Noodle Salad recipe with 5 variations is quick, easy and highly addictive.
- Curried Wild Rice Salad
- Best Watermelon Salad with Strawberries and Mint
- Jennifer Aniston Salad Recipe + 3 Variations (for two)
- Ramen Noodle Salad with 5 Asian Variations
Sweet Treats
- Chocolate-dipped strawberries (sometimes local markets or grocery stores will have these already made in their bakery)
- Homemade cookies, brownies or mini chocolate bundt cakes.
Special Addition
- For an unexpected delight, serve my favorite melon gazpacho with sweet corn or cucumber and peach gazpacho in 8 oz wide mouth mason jars —elegant, portable, and downright delicious. Don’t forget the spoons!
Beverages
- Sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice.
- A bottle of wine or champagne (don't forget the corkscrew!).
- Watermelon and Mint Mocktail, Whiskey Sours, Iced tea or lemonade in a thermos.
Pam's Final Tips
- Pack Smart: Use reusable containers like mason jars and pack foods that travel well.
- Stay Safe: Be mindful of any food allergies and pack foods that are safe to eat at room temperature.
- Have Fun: The most important part of a picnic date is to enjoy each other’s company and create wonderful memories.
A picnic date is a charming and delightful way to spend time together, and with these tips, you're sure to plan a perfect outing. So, grab your picnic basket, head to your favorite spot, and savor the simple pleasures of a beautiful day outdoors!
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