Tips for Packing the Perfect Picnic

Make memories this summer by packing the perfect picnic and enjoying an afternoon relaxing with your loved ones and some great food! Picnics can be everything from simple to elaborate, but no matter your style we think there is nothing better than enjoying a lazy summer afternoon with an old-fashioned picnic!  I’ve partnered with Cape Cod® Potato Chips to share my tips for packing the perfect picnic and to show you how to turn an ordinary afternoon into an Extraordinary one with a fun family picnic!

I’m a sucker for any type of quality family time, especially activities we can enjoy together outdoors.  Maybe it’s because my kids always seem to be so carefree and happy (translation: there is a lot less arguing and fighting over who’s turn it is for the iPad or toys) when we are spending time outdoors.  And maybe it’s just me, but I think everything taste better when dining al fresco, don’t you?

With just a few practical items, plus a hint of whimsical touches you can transform your al fresco meal into a gourmet experience your family and friends will never forget.  Here are my top 5 favorite things you’ll need consider when packing the perfect picnic:

Location, Location, Location

Ok, ok so this first one might not be something you pack, but the first step to the perfect picnic is finding the perfect location.  Do some research and find a nearby local park, beach or lake for your special picnic.  Find a new park in your community or visit an old favorite, but make sure that once you arrive you find a spot with plenty of shade.

Picnic Basket

I’ve had my cute picnic basket for over 14 years and love it!  It is sturdy and has lots of room to carry all my favorite foods.  It’s also a little sentimental value because my husband bought it for me while we were dating in college and took me on a romantic picnic date as one of our first official dates.  Maybe that’s when my love affair with picnics started! 🙂  If you don’t have a picnic basket, don’t fret, just back your picnic goodies in a sturdy tote.

Good Food

This is what will set your picnic apart from ordinary and make it extraordinary.  Picnic food should be effortless, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious or even fancy.  I wanted our picnic to be festive and fun so I used lots of fun paper goods from Michaels to dress up my store bought food.  I am in love with these disposable take out boxes.  Not only do they make clean up easy, but they help make your picnic feel extra special too!  I loaded up our take out boxes with sandwiches from our favorite deli and our favorite Cape Cod® Potato Chips, fruit and cookies.  It’s kind of like those box lunches you’d get on field trips or at work meetings, only a little more fun and fancy!

I also like to pack some snacks, especially if we plan to hang out for a while.  One of our families favorites is the Sea Salt Popcorn.  Cape Cod® Potato Chips may be best known as Home of Ridiculously Good Chips, but their popcorn is amazing too!  My husband and kids love popping handfuls of the popcorn in their mouths, and as a health conscience mom I love that this is a better for-you snack that actually taste really good too!  I always pack a few popcorn boxes so the kids can fill them up and I don’t have to worry about their dirty, sweaty hands reaching into the bag of popcorn.

Like the popcorn, Cape Cod Potato Chips are a superior chip when compared to other brands.  Why, you ask?  Because they start with hand selected potatoes, use simple high-quality, all natural ingredients and small batch crafting.  Each bag of chips has a distinct flavor with a hearty crunch and each chip is unique, perfect in it’s imperfections; which is exactly why we think they are the perfect addition to your picnic.

Blanket & Pillows

Invest in a large, durable picnic blanket that is soft to sit on.  I personally like the blankets that have a waterproof backing and can easily be folded up for transport.  Of course, there is more to a picnic than just throwing out a blanket, especially if you want to encourage lots of quality time with the family.  Throw in a few small throw pillows to make it extra cozy and relaxing.

Awesome Activities

Ok, so all you may want to do is lay your head down on one of the pillows and take a quiet nap but chances are that our kids won’t be up for that.  Make sure to bring some awesome activities or toys they can use to stay entertained and happy!  I like to bring our Nature Scavenger Hunt, a Frisbee, a ball and a book to read.

This summer I plan to make lots of extraordinary memories with my kids, and you should too!  So, what are you waiting for? Get busy packing the perfect picnic!  Whether you are enjoying it from the park to the beach to your own backyard, you’ll be creating family memories worth treasuring.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cape Cod® Potato Chips.