How To Plan The Perfect Backyard Picnic

**Collaborative post**

As the summer season slowly ends, sneak in a few backdoor picnics before the colder weather sets in. Picnics are the perfect opportunity to bond with friends and family without the added distractions that restaurants bring. There is just something so refreshing about dining outdoors, it could be the warm sun on your face or the wonderfully fresh air all around you, or it could be a combination of these both. Here are seven great tips to help you plan the perfect picnic in your backyard.

The Perfect Blanket

Picnics are all about relaxing and unwinding, you can’t do that if you’re uncomfortable and all trying to squeeze onto a tiny, thin blanket. The perfect picnic starts with the perfect blanket. Choose one that is plenty big enough to accommodate at least four people, if you need more than one then so be it. The ideal blanket needs to be plush, so you don’t feel the hard ground beneath you, but also made from a durable material that is easy to wash.

Great Food

What is a picnic without a thoughtfully planned menu? Plan your perfect picnic menu by including light, snack foods like cheese and biscuits, charcuterie plates, and chicken wings. The best picnic menus always have savoury and sweet options so don’t forget the candies, chocolates, and fresh fruit. Picnics are all about easy-to-eat foods and tasty treats. If you have pets, be sure to make a little something for them too.

Disposable Cups and Plates

Picnics are meant to be a convenient way to break bread with your friends and family, not events that leave you spending hours in the kitchen washing dishes afterwards. Opt for disposable plates and cups instead and make the clean-up quick and easy. Instead of risking broken glasses, pour your wine into a Styrofoam cup – no one will judge you.  Styrofoam insulates far more effectively than plastic does, so your drinks will stay colder for longer.

Suitable clothing

While the weather is great picnics always seem a brilliant idea, however, the weather can turn so quickly that it is always best to pack an extra layer or two such as warm hoodies – look at sntjms.com for some merchandise everyone will love and you may want to grab a hat to keep the sun off your head or even to stop your hair blowing in the wind – look at Gone Country Hats for something a little different

Sunscreen

t might not be the middle of summer anymore but that does not mean you don’t need protection from the sun. Put on a layer of a decent level of SPF sunscreen, like a 20 or a 30, just to be sure that your skin is protected while you are outside and enjoying the last days of warm weather. This is particularly important for your children; their young skin is more susceptible to burning and they won’t even notice until it is too late. If your pets are prone to skin conditions, then get sunscreen for them too. You cannot use regular sunscreen on them because it is toxic to their skin.

Pillows

Make sure your pillows are part of the deal when you go for your backyard picnic. Having lots of soft, comfortable pillows will make the experience so much better. Once you’ve finished eating and you’re ready for a bit of cloud-watching, your pillows will be fluffed and ready for action. Pillows are also great at stopping various parts of your body from going numb when you sit on them for too long. If your picnic isn’t a comfortable experience, then you’re going to want to give up and go back inside.

Bug Spray

Nothing ruins a picnic faster than unwanted critters. There are two ways you can address this issue, the first is by liberally applying bug spray to every exposed area of skin – particularly around your feet and ankles because those are heaven to mosquitoes. The next step is to load some food onto a paper plate and put it on the grass next to you. Placement for this needs to be perfect, you want the food close enough to distract the crawlies coming to ruin your fun, but you don’t want it too close that you end up being in their path.

Games

Picnics just aren’t picnics without a bit of outdoor fun and games. If the weather is great, then you can set up some water activities next to the pool – your kids will love this! If the weather isn’t quite hot enough to swim, then set up a few other activities instead. These can include things like lawn darts, giant Jenga, or a good, old-fashioned egg and spoon race. There are so many different game ideas for your picnic online that you’ll never run out of ideas. You and your kids can spend hours outside, bonding and having the best time of your lives.

For the adults, you could look into some wine tasting – pair the wines with the perfect foods and it’s a great way of trying something new.

Picnics have a magical way of bringing us closer together, which is why humans have loved them since the 18th century.