Who doesn’t love a good picnic? Simple yet delicious foods, beautiful scenery, fresh air, and lounging on a blanket in the sunshine with friends. Yes, please!
Need inspiration for foods to bring along? Check out my super easy guide to dining al fresco. There you’ll find food ideas and tips for easier (and greener) picnicking.
GIVEAWAY ENDED
Need picnic supplies? Enter our giveaway!
Just leave a comment below with your favorite picnic food or picnic spot, and you’ll be entered to win one of two fabulous prizes:
1. A picnic basket that includes:
- $75 gift card to Whole Foods
- Picnic backpack, filled with plates, goblets, flatware and napkins for four, a bread knife, wooden cutting board, salt and pepper shakers, a wine corkscrew, a detachable wine cooler, and a blanket!
- Coupons for FREE Stonyfield organic dairy products
2. Four bottles of the perfect picnic wine!
- 4 bottles of CalNaturale™ wine, the “official wine of summer,” in Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
- CalNaturale™ is made from certified organically-grown California grapes, tastes great, and comes in Tetra Pak packaging, so it’s perfect for a picnic or any other occasion where you need wine one-the-go. You will love having wine in lightweight, eco-friendly, re-closable containers that can be taken anywhere at anytime!
- Check out CalNaturale’s Facebook page for your chance to win their Summer Prize Pack, valued at $1000!
Two winners will be randomly chosen on Tuesday evening, July 10, 2012. Prizes will be mailed directly to the winners. Don’t miss your chance to win!!
Remember, all you have to do is leave a comment below with your favorite picnic food or picnic spot and you’re entered.
Good luck!
75 Comments
Darlene Avery
July 6, 2012 at 5:13 pmmy favorite picnic spot is on the beach of Newfound Lake in beautiful NH!
Miranda
July 6, 2012 at 5:38 pmMy favorite picnic food is crackers with cheese. So simple and delicious!
Cherissa Alldredge
July 6, 2012 at 5:46 pmWe like to picnic in the park with our kiddos! Fresh fruit, raw veggies, juice boxes and plenty of water are musts.
Courtney Guadiz
July 6, 2012 at 7:01 pmOur favorite picnic spot is Sunrise park in Ballard, WA
Tessa
July 6, 2012 at 7:46 pmI love having picnics while hiking! I work up an appetite and always have a great view.
Frieda
July 6, 2012 at 8:05 pmWe love a picnic too! Our favorite place is Lake Padden, Bellingham, WA. My favorite picnic food is a traditional greek salad. But I think my kids’ vote for favorite food would be cookies or brownies 🙂
Sue
July 6, 2012 at 9:31 pmFresh strawberries, halved, and stuffed with a very small amount of goat cheese that has been creamed with finely minced fresh cilantro
Large white mushrooms, sliced, and used to dip into a spinach-yoghurt dip.
Cucumber sandwiches, made with artisan bread lightly spread with olive oil, and filled with sliced cucumbers, and cream cheese that has been mixed with lemon juice and honey.
For dessert, serve Trader Joe’s Meyer Lemon Cookies. Hint: buy more boxes of these than you think you’ll need.
Stephanie
July 7, 2012 at 12:00 amI love deviled eggs, but rarely make them these days.
Jen
July 7, 2012 at 4:10 amFave picnic food is pasta salad.
Bridget Robinson
July 7, 2012 at 6:56 amRobbins Hill beach Brewster MA or Balboa Park San Diego CA
Dana
July 7, 2012 at 8:04 amI love picnics at Lowman Beach in West Seattle and my fave thing to bring is kale salad with green onions, avocado and fresh tomatoes.
Jennie
July 7, 2012 at 8:24 amI love Antrim Park in Columbus, OH – so pretty and lots of shady benches in the summer!
christa
July 7, 2012 at 9:38 amit’s a lazy picnic lunch… but i like going to a local co-op and getting pre-made salads and fresh fruit. this way there is literally NO planning required. you can be spontaneous, fast, and eat deliciously!
Rebecca
July 7, 2012 at 11:23 amLately, our favorite picnic spot has been beside our neighborhood pool…it’s been HOT in Memphis 🙂 !
manda
July 7, 2012 at 12:53 pmI like cheese and fruit on picnics! Great giveaway!
Cori
July 7, 2012 at 2:28 pmMy husband and I had a fabulous picnic in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. We took a train from Florence and enjoyed Caprese sandwiches we had brought with us that morning. We hope to do it again in the future!
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats
July 7, 2012 at 3:32 pmMy favorite picnic food is an assortment of meat & cheeses with crackers, olives, wine, berries. 🙂
Elise
July 7, 2012 at 3:48 pmI’m a big fan of watermelon or cherries at a piknick!
Carolyn G
July 7, 2012 at 7:21 pmOur favorite picnic spot is in Cherokee, NC. There is a little area near the Natahala River that is perfect
Devin Mequio
July 7, 2012 at 9:17 pmMy favorite picnic food is watermelon. I love enjoying a picnic at MacDill AFB near the bay!
Amelia
July 8, 2012 at 1:42 pmSounds perfect to me too!
The Healthy Apple
July 8, 2012 at 3:24 pmMy favorite picnic spot is Central Park in Manhattan! Such an AMAZING Giveaway. xo
Jill
July 8, 2012 at 7:41 pmOur favorite place to picnic in Flagstaff is Thorpe Park. Fun place for the kiddos to play.
Tt
July 8, 2012 at 8:03 pmThat whole foods giftcard would be so awesome!!! I love to picnic in central park during the free summer concerts with hummus and veggies, deli salads from whole foods and prosecco!
Carly
July 9, 2012 at 9:15 amMy favorite picnic food is baguette and brie!
Amelia
July 9, 2012 at 9:42 amWish I could come picnic with you this summer!!
Amelia
July 9, 2012 at 9:43 amMmmm, what more does a person need?!
shelley hudson
July 9, 2012 at 10:42 amI’m very lucky to be spoiled with so many beautiful options in Southern California! I think my favorite picnic spot is the beach–at sunset. A thermos of wine and a couple of sandwiches or cheese and fruit are simple and easy to carry (and enjoy!). My second choice would be one of the amazing ocean-view hiking trails in Palos Verdes…nothing like overlooking all of Santa Monica Bay and refueling after a sweaty hike 🙂
Amelia
July 9, 2012 at 11:00 amThermos of wine + Palos Verdes views = heaven!
Jessica P
July 9, 2012 at 11:20 amMy favorite picnic spot in on the beach during the week with my family. I love eating by the shore and enjoying nature at it’s best 🙂
Ray
July 9, 2012 at 11:28 amAvocado turkey sandwiches on a picnic hiking trip!
Alex LG
July 9, 2012 at 11:28 amI’m luck to live near the Blue Ridge Mountains, and one of the local apple orchards hosts picnics on Thursday nights to watch the sunset. It is the perfect spot to eat some fresh produce and have a glass of wine with friends.
Natalie @ Freshlifefindings
July 9, 2012 at 11:32 amMy favorite picnic food is wine and cheese with crackers!
Georgiana
July 9, 2012 at 11:33 amI love bringing fresh fruit and cheese and crackers for a family beach picnic to snack on all afternoon while we all enjoy the sun and sand!
Lori Olsen
July 9, 2012 at 11:35 amFavorite picnic food is ham and cheese on a nice panini bread. Yumm
Merri B
July 9, 2012 at 11:38 amMy daughters, husband & I just had our first picnic on July 4th. Watermelon was a HUGE hit!
Miri
July 9, 2012 at 11:39 amMy favorite picnic spot here in Madison, WI is on our beautiful Capital square. When we go to the farmer’s market on saturdays (around the square), my favorite picnic fare is to buy some seasonal fruit, veggies and a great local WI cheese with fresh bread from Madison Sourdough for our picnic!
Robin O (@rkosully)
July 9, 2012 at 11:40 amPicnics in the park are the best! My favorite picnic foods are crackers & veggie sticks with hummus; and mini pinwheel wrap sandwiches–in a beautiful picnic basket, of course!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
Kathy Earls
July 9, 2012 at 11:40 amMy favorite spot to picnic is at the lake near our house. Lots of ducks and wildlife to liven it up a bit.
Rebecca
July 9, 2012 at 11:40 amWatermelon in the park with my kids 🙂 perfect food, perfect place, best people!!
Geeta Ranbhor
July 9, 2012 at 11:43 amI love to have picnics by the lakeside. We often go to the White Rock lake in Dallas with our picnic basket and blanket. My favorite snack to carry is veggie-cheese sandwiches.
Haley Southey
July 9, 2012 at 11:45 amI absolutely love Watermelon! My favorite picnic food! But I think “Pie-in-a-Jar” is the perfect picnic addition!! So adorable!!
Nichole Thomas
July 9, 2012 at 11:46 amMy favorite picnic food is fresh tomato with mozzarella and basil ontop a great piece of bread. Yum!
Katie @wishandwhimsy
July 9, 2012 at 11:46 amWhat a fun giveaway! I adore picnics. I think some of my favorite picnic items include chilled roasted veggies, simple sandwiches, hummus, salads with fruits….I love it all. I enjoy picnics in the park, especially when there’s a local community concert series.
Christina
July 9, 2012 at 11:47 amWe love to picnic in the park, then play at the playground for a bit. Our favorite picnic food is Snikiddy snacks! :o)
Holly S
July 9, 2012 at 11:51 amFor “everyday” picnics, our neighborhood park with pb & j, grapes, and watermelon. But best picnic place ever would have to be Paris’ Tuileries garden with a fresh baguette, cheese, proscuitto, olives, fruit, and wine!
Yuen
July 9, 2012 at 11:51 amFav picnic food is canteloupe wrapped in prosciutto, or caprese salad using my home-grown tomatos & basil!
Amelia
July 9, 2012 at 11:53 amDoesn’t get better than homegrown tomatoes with basil – So summery!
Fallan
July 9, 2012 at 12:16 pmMy all-time, hands-down favorite picnic food is ice cold watermelon. Goes with everything and keep your hydrated. Also need to have potato salad.
We love to go to this little park near our house in Central Florida for picnics, with space for kite playing and a playground.
Anna F.
July 9, 2012 at 12:21 pmI love to bring a chilled bottle of d’Asti Moscato. Perfect beverage accompaniment to a picnic!
Renata
July 9, 2012 at 12:21 pmFavorite Picnic food is trail mix and fresh fruit! Yummy raw food that’s healthy and nutritious to give my body fuel on a walk through the park!
Jasmine
July 9, 2012 at 12:21 pmMy favorite picnic food would definitely have to be healthy chicken salad (just some simple mixed greens and chopped veggies with baked/grilled chicken breast), fruit salad, some non-greasy olives and a small amount of mozzarella! Yum!
Mariya
July 9, 2012 at 12:32 pmChicken salad sandwiches and fruit salad are the best.
Jennifer M
July 9, 2012 at 12:33 pmMy favorite pinic food is turkey and cheese sandwhich with homemade potato salad on the side.
Sarah @ Learning to Feed Yourself
July 9, 2012 at 12:56 pmMy favorite picnic food is definitely the simple yet so delicious peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Laurel C
July 9, 2012 at 1:23 pmPeach pie is the perfect picnic treat 🙂
Maggie tharp
July 9, 2012 at 1:47 pmMy favorite spot is in Huroc Park, Flat Rock, MI. Climb down to the crick and no one can find you. Very peaceful.
Ilene
July 9, 2012 at 2:08 pmwatermelon!
Nancy Reinertsen
July 9, 2012 at 3:26 pmWe vacation on the North Fork of Long Island, New York as often as we can. It’s the nicer side, the one with 70+ wineries, organic farms, oyster-ponds, clammers and fishermen not the chi-chi overpriced Hamptons side. My husband and I love to pack a dinner picnic and listen to music at a local winery. Our favorite is Raphael’s in Southold on Thursday nights all summer long. We buy a bottle of wine, usually rose, eat, and dance and laugh all night. The winery looks just looks a castle in Tuscany, and we dance to a 50’s-60’s-70’s band till midnight! Oh and if we don’t like whomever’s is playing-we tae our picnic to the beach-with a bottle of wine of course!
I’ll grill whatever’s local and delicious, like Peconic Bay scallops, homemade crab-cakes and veggies like eggplant, onions, corn and zucchini, pack up some local goat cheese and honey and fresh bread from Blue Duck Bakery, slice some just-picked organic heirloom tomatoes from KK’s and wash a few peaches. HEAVENLY.
StoriesAndSweetPotatoes
July 9, 2012 at 3:58 pmMy favorite picnic food is the classic sandwich!
M.
July 9, 2012 at 4:46 pmMy favorite picnic treat is watermelon-soaked angel food cake.
steph
July 9, 2012 at 5:16 pmour local state park is our favorite!!
Renata
July 9, 2012 at 5:56 pmLove to pack turkey, lettuce, avocado and tomato sandwiches with fresh fruit, trail mix, cheese and cracker to snack on as we visit the national park here and have a lovely lunch under the trees with my family!
Megin Cress
July 9, 2012 at 6:53 pmPickle wraps! They are crunchy, cold and yummy!
Amelia
July 9, 2012 at 10:45 pmNever thought to do this but sounds delicious!
Janice
July 10, 2012 at 6:36 amassorted fruits, but especially watermelon!
Wen
July 10, 2012 at 6:52 amhot dogs
Elizabeth
July 10, 2012 at 9:43 amMy favorite picnic spot is any kind of beach! I love watching my son play in the water before and after a great lunch!
Gina M
July 10, 2012 at 9:55 amwatermelon is our favorite picnic food.
Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
Elisabeth
July 10, 2012 at 11:45 amI love having watermelon on a picnic!
Amelia Brower
July 10, 2012 at 6:44 pmMy favorite picnic food is a pasta salad, with corn, fresh red bell peper in little cubes, cucumber, tomatoes, cold salmon (cooked the night before)….toss with a lithg vinagret and sprinke parmesan and fresh ground peper!
Erin T
July 10, 2012 at 9:12 pmLove to pack some yummy sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese and crackers. Best place is a nice tree filled park!
Elizabeth
July 12, 2012 at 10:23 amChilled white wine.
Amelia
July 12, 2012 at 9:55 pmThis sounds so dreamy, Nancy!
Amelia
July 12, 2012 at 10:50 pmGlad you have the pool to stay cool, Rebecca! Give the kids a hug from us!