Nothing says summer better than a picnic. In fact, there’s almost nothing as pleasant as packing up a fresh lunch and heading out to the park or the countryside. But the key to having a great picnic experience is being prepared. Being prepared with the tools and utensils you’ll need to have a filling, relaxing meal; creating the right menu that will be both easy to pack and easy to consume outdoors on the ground; and choosing foods that are easily packable and make cleanup quick and simple.

Want to create your own? Here are some picnic ideas that will help you create the perfect outdoor dining experience.

Start with the Right Supplies

Every picnic needs the right supplies to be comfortable. For starters, you need a great blanket. This should be large enough to easily accommodate all of your picnic guests and thick enough to make sitting on the ground comfortable. It should also be a blanket that you don’t mind getting dirty and that can be easily washed.

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Next, you need to get the right plates, cups, utensils, and carrying case. A woven basket is great because it will last for years and is easy to keep clean – even after multiple picnic outings. Utensils will often come with the basket, if you purchase a picnic-specific basket. If you don’t, plastic utensils are a great choice, because they travel better. You’ll also want to pack plastic stackable cups and plastic wine glasses (if you plan to pop open a bottle of wine), along with a corkscrew.

Don’t forget to pack:

• A large, thick blanket
• Plastic wine glasses (like these nesting ones, which are great because they actually break down to make for easier packing)
• Picnic basket (we always recommend getting one that comes stocked with plastic utensils, plates, and built-in storage areas, like this one.
• Two sets of plastic utensils (if your picnic basket doesn’t come already stocked with them)
• A corkscrew

Plan the Perfect Menu

There are a lot of different picnic ideas when it comes to preparing the perfect menu. We’re firmly of the belief that picnics are a great place to break out tapas. Outdoor dining is perfect for finger foods, and our favorites are crostinis (which are Italian appetizers of small toasted bread slices with toppings) featuring thick dips and soft cheeses. Also, snacks like nuts, fresh fruit, olives, and salamis are perfect picnic ideas because they’re easy to pack and easy to eat.

For an entree, choose something simple like a summer pasta salad (like this chicken, asparagus, and mushroom pasta), which is easy to pack up and easy to store. Pack a few individual bottles of lemonade or tea, along with a bottle of wine. And finish it off with a simple dessert like brownies or cookies. Simplicity is key here, as the perfect picnic is just as much about being in a new environment and enjoying the outdoors as it is about the food.

Pack These Provisions

• Fresh fruit
• Nuts
• Soft cheese or a thick dip with toasted bread – a crostino
• Easy-to-pack snacks, such as olives, salami, and prosciutto
• Summer pasta salad
• Lemonade or Iced green tea
• Bottle of wine
• Brownies or Cookies

What are your perfect picnic ideas? Favorite picnic foods and drinks? Share them with us in the comments!