Destinations for Picnicking with the Family

As any family who enjoys the outdoors will tell you, picnicking is one of the finest joys in life. Pack a meal and head into the wilderness to enjoy lunch while surrounded by the serenity of nature.

One of the best things about picnics is you can have a picnic basically anywhere. As long as the place you have in mind is not private, bring along a picnic basket and a blanket for some family quality time.

If you are visiting a new city with the family and just need a few ideas, a quick Google search will surely bring up tons of local recommendations for great spots to picnic. From local parks to spots off the beaten path, checking out local media and organizations is the best way to find some hidden gems.

One surefire way to turn an average trip and picnic into a once-in-a-lifetime experience is to picnic in a scenic national park. You can pick any national park with enough outdoor space, but the National Park Service has a trusty breakdown of nine parks great for picnicking.

The Park Service’s recommendations run from California to New Jersey, with parks in many states in between. The convenient thing about camping in a national park is there are often convenient places to sit down and have a picnic without too much setup. Park benches and tables often make for great spots, even if they aren’t in the most scenic locations. In the worst-case scenario, sit down near a hiking trail with a blanket and turn any spot into a venue for the family picnic.

Outside the regular national parks, make sure to explore your area for local parks. Just because these spots do not have the designation as a national park does not make them any less beautiful.

For a historical picnic, consider a trip to Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts. Your family can picnic on the pond that inspired Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. In the south, check out Covert Park, near Austin, Texas.

Where you picnic has more to do with where you are already traveling than it does with anything else. If all else fails, check in with the locals to see where longtime residents recommend taking the family.