Pool Picnic

Picnic With A View

Guide To a Picnic Date

Picnic With A View
Places with interesting scenery are good choices - they show you're not boring, provide things to talk about, and the setting makes it easier to relax and open up. How about:

A hilltop where you can see people fly kites, sail, surf, paraglide, fly remote-controlled gliders, or do any other fun-to-watch activities. Avoid noise, things like waverunners are better from a distance.
A place to watch sports while you picnic, like a polo field, lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee, or any other local club sports
A view of the city skyline, a bridge, bay or harbor, stadium, or other attractive landmark
Botanical gardens
Historic areas with old buildings and architecture
Park where you can watch children play
Pool, lake or beach where you can you can enjoy the ray of sunshine reflecting off the water

Nature View

The wild has some amazing areas for a romantic picnic. Try to find a spot that doesn't require too much of a walk and keep the meal light if you're hiking in. National or state parks are good places to start and remember that bathrooms can be an issue in the wild.

Try These!

Along a lake, river, or near a waterfall

An open meadow

Hillside looking out across a valley

Nature preserves

The desert during more temperate months

Wooded areas or a forest clearing

The Beach
Beach picnics provide all kinds of fun things to see and do. If crowds are an issue consider going later in the day when families are heading home and remember to bring a beach umbrella or canopy for shade. The biggest issue with picnicking at the beach is sand being blown into your food. I recommend finger foods that can be eaten out of Tupperware containers so that you can keep the food covered while eating. When thinking of beach spots, consider:

Cliffs along the shoreline where you can see miles and miles of coast
Beaches with built-in bbq's for grilling
Fire pits are a fun way to stay past sunset and roast marshmallows
If on a lake or other calm body of water, think about small docks
If you have a lake in your area, could you take a rowboat to a secluded spot?

Park

Parks are the picnic staple and can be great if you have a well-maintained one nearby.

Look for parks that offer concerts or other productions by talking to your parks department
Investigate parks in surrounding areas by visiting city websites
Find one with good space and shade so you can get away from the crowds and sun

Seasonal
Picnics are suited to warmer times of the year but that doesn't mean you can't have one in the dead of winter!

Enjoy the changing of the seasons by taking a drive to an area where you can experience the brilliant colors of fall. Bring a waterproof blanket, warm clothes and hot food!
Plan a picnic is the snow with hot cider, cocoa, coffee, tea, or mulled wine, along with a big container of hot soup. Bring a waterproof blanket and keep food warm in cooler with heated bricks (see food section below). While you're out there pick a spot to go sledding or build a snowman!
Enjoy the blooming spring flowers by taking a drive to the country and having a picnic in a meadow among the wildflowers. Pick a bouquet to take home and enjoy for the rest of the week. Don't forget a container to keep the flowers watered for the ride home.

Others

Rooftop
Festivals
On a boat
Pick your own fruit farm
Vineyard, along with wine tasting

What To Bring
Because of the natural issues with picnics, such as bugs, wind, dirt, and food heating issues, my personal preference is to keep things very simple with foods that can be eaten by hand, right out of Tupperware containers. The menu choice is up to you, but here are some basic food tips:

Mayonnaise spoils quickly, keep it refrigerated and add to salads or sandwiches after arrival
Keep eggs and dairy products well-chilled
Keep food cold with frozen bottles of water that you can drink later after they’ve thawed
If you’re bringing hot food, one trick for keeping it warm is to put a few bricks in the oven at 250 degrees F for 45 minutes or so, and then wrap them in tin foil and place in a cooler on top of a towel (so they don't melt through). This will keep anything you put in the cooler warm for up to an hour.
Use Ziploc bags to keep food fresh
Pack soft foods in hard containers so they don’t get squished
Pack food just before leaving for the picnic
Make sure alcohol is permitted if you plan on bringing it

This is a big list of possible items that may give you ideas or at least keep you from forgetting important things:

Thick blanket (waterproof if area's damp, I ALWAYS CARY ONE IN MY TRUNK)
Small cooler
Picnic basket or backpack (Preferably basket)
Napkins
Disposable plates, plastic cups and utensils
Condiments
Wet wipes
One plastic bag for trash and another for used dishware or glasses that you're taking home
Jug of water and 2 light towels to clean up. Dampen the towels and use to freshen up, remove sunscreen, clean dog paws, etc
Bug spray (optional)
Wine glasses (optional)
Corkscrew (optional)
Umbrella or canopy for shade (optional)
Hats or sunscreen (optional)
Warm clothes if it might cool off (optional)
Flashlight (optional)
Camera (optional)
Talcum powder around the outside of the picnic blanket to keep ants away (optional)

More Romantic?

Small vase and flowers, picked upon arrival if possible
Tealight candles in glass tumblers or large shot glasses, or a solar sun jar if you're staying past sunset
Music
A pillow or two

What To do??
Sometimes sitting down and getting to know each other is plenty, but other times you'll want to do something besides talk. Try:What to do