Summer Vibes: The Ultimate Guide to an Epic Picnic!
- Greg
- May 19, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: May 29, 2024
There are few things as romantic as hitting the open road for a day or weekend picnic getaway with that special person. Having a picnic with a few close friends can also provide memories that will last a life time. Whether you're escaping the city for a tranquil countryside retreat or seeking thrills along winding coastal roads looking for that picnic spot with the perfect view, the right accessories can enhance your experience and make it a romantic or social memory you'll recount for years to come. Here's a roundup of essential accessories to consider for your perfect picnic outing.
Picnic Baskets
These are not just great looking, but they are practical. We often use ours for impromptu drives to the beach, mountains or even outdoor concerts when bored at home. The picnic backpack is also great for a day hike or even No planning is required because it has everything you need to enjoy a romantic outing or a social outing with friends. Just grab the basket and a bottle of wine, some cheeses, salami, snacks and off you go. Most of these have two or four person options. They come with a wine bottle holder, plates, glasses, picnic blanket, utensils, wine bottle opener and cheese knife. They also have a compartment to place food or snacks in and most are available in different colors.
Apollo Walker Picnic Backpack Bag with Cooler Compartment,Wine Bag, Picnic Blanket 45"x53", Options for 2 or 4 people. Various colors, my top backpack choice) $49.98 for 2 or $57.98 for 4 - https://amzn.to/4bJGCQ1
Nature Gear Premium Picnic Basket Backpack, Options for 2 or 4 people. Insulated Bag with Plaid Blanket, Travel Set, Wine & Cheese Kit. I really like this one a lot too! $54.99 - https://amzn.to/4asUFIX
AW BRIDAL 24L Insulated Picnic Backpack, Options for 2 or 4 with "Life Is An Adventure" written on it. $44.09 for 4 on sale at time of post - https://amzn.to/4bBe8bq
This last one is not a backpack type, it is the traditional classic wicker picnic basket. I really like that the top of the basket becomes a small table and has places to hold the wine glasses. This is a really nice picnic basket! - Wicker Picnic Basket for 2 or 4, Willow Hamper Service with Blanket & Portable Wine Snack Table - https://amzn.to/4dOKtNu
Food Mesh Covers
Mesh covers are an absolute necessity when picnicking or camping. No one wants flies all over their food! Here are two of the higher rated covers.
WBTY Bamboo Food Mesh Cover $13.59 - https://amzn.to/3VhMSZO
Midremer 3-Piece Bamboo Food Cover (small, medium & large) $34.99 - https://amzn.to/3WWF5lJ
Wokuya Pop-Up Collapsible Food Tents 6-Pack Various Sizes $19.69 sale at post time
(40x24*1,17x17*2,14x14*2,12x12*1) - https://amzn.to/3KleTte
Picnic Blankets
The following picnic blankets are not your typical blankets. These have multiple layers and have a waterproof bottom layer to keep you dry even if the ground is moist. These are also easy to carry and look very nice. Perfect for that special picnic.
G Good Gain Picnic Blanket (7 color options) $21.89 - https://amzn.to/3R4a9vV
Sapsisel Picnic Blanket (3 color options) $26.99 - https://amzn.to/3ytTj34
PortableAnd Picnic Blanket (3 color options) $19.99 - https://amzn.to/4bRyUn1
Portable Bistro Sets
Don't forget to pack a couple of folding chairs and table for lounging at your picnic spot. Look for lightweight chairs and tables that are easy to transport and set up. I prefer either aluminum for its' lightweight or wood for its' time-less classic look. One of my favorites are these two beautiful wooden bistro sets.
Best Choice Products 3 Piece Acacia Wood Bistro Set. It is a classy setup for a romantic picnic for two. It is lightweight and easily fits in the trunk of any car, and the price is unbeatable ($149.99) as of May 19th. No assembly required: Table dimensions are 24"(Dia) x 29"(H); Table Capacity: 88 lbs.; Chair Capacity: 240 lbs. (each). - https://amzn.to/3QRJbYn
Patio Wise Bistro Chairs & Table: The second set has a slightly different look, I do prefer this look a little more. Not sure if the quality is better, but it is a bit more expensive. You have to buy the chairs and table separately. Chairs - https://amzn.to/3K46fPX
Table - https://amzn.to/3UFbdHG
Portable Outdoor Chairs
If the wooden bistro set is not what I need, I'll bring my ten year old canopy chair. Includes two places to put things in like a drink or phone. I can't find this exact model anymore, but the VTOY and Docusvect are very similar.
VTOY Foldable Camping Chair with Shade Canopy (many colors) $49.99 - https://amzn.to/3Vei24F
Docusvect Foldable Camping Chair with Shade Canopy & Side Screens (green or blue) $69.99 on sale at time of post - https://amzn.to/3yy5cF9
NG Nopteg Canvas Folding Chair - https://amzn.to/3WWEO2a
Happygrill Canvas Folding Camping Chair - https://amzn.to/4bwQVaq
Tangkula Canvas Folding Camping Chair (2 chairs) - https://amzn.to/3WVIjFO
GCI Outdoor Rocker Camping Chair with Shade Canopy ( - https://amzn.to/4dMgPsy
HAUSHOF Foldable Camping Chair with Side Table and Pockets - https://amzn.to/3wE9ytR
Portable Outdoor Tables
There are several factors I take into account when choosing a portable table. Is it easy to setup and take down, is it lightweight, is it well-built and does it look good. For a medium sized portable picnic I like the iClimb table. For a weekend or longer I prefer to use the larger portable table, the Sanny Outdoor Folding Portable Picnic Camping Table (this is the one we use most if we have more people than just the two of us) The table tops roll for portability.
iClimb Ultralight Compact Camping Folding Table with Carry Bag $45.99 - https://amzn.to/3WTSkn2
HFERTW Solid Acacia Wood Folding Table $83.06 – https://amzn.to/4aOAgyc
Sanny Large Folding Camping Table $59.49 - https://amzn.to/3QPRwM3
Coolers
A good cooler is a must for keeping your drinks and snacks cold during long drives. Look for a compact, insulated cooler that fits easily in your vehicle and can keep ice frozen for extended periods. I find that 45-80 Quarts are good for road trips and weekend camping. These keep ice frozen for many days (ROVR claims 10 days). I like all three a lot, but I think the ROVR is my favorite cooler. It has excellent insulation and looks great! I know the ROVR and Yeti are expensive, but I think they are worth it if you take a few road trips, go camping or have picnics and such every year. If that is the case, I recommend getting something durable, will last many years and does an exceptional job at keeping food and drinks very cold.
ROVR (45 Quart) 45PROLLRW $418 https://amzn.to/3wx1bjY or ROVR (80 Quart) 80PROLLRW $371 https://amzn.to/44Zt7cU
Yeti Tundra Haul Portable Wheeled Cooler (50 Quart) $425 - https://amzn.to/3wHUlbr
Yeti Tundra 45 (45 Quart Various Colors) is a good size for a road trip or a short camping trip. Less expensive, but no wheels $300 https://amzn.to/3QQNKlw
Coleman 316 Series Cooler is a good one at a much lower price. If money is a little tight, I'd probably get the Coleman. $105.99 - https://amzn.to/3WL4Bdk
Portable Car Refrigerators
No one wants to get food poisoning, especially during a weekend get-away! When doing multi-day travel to places where you may not have access to a grocery store, portable refrigerators are very convenient. They provide freshness and safety to your food, reducing the risk of spoilage and illness. A reliable source of cold storage allows travelers to carry perishable items such as fresh produce, meat, and dairy products without worrying. Measure the area in your vehicle where you can place it when needed and find one that fits. Pre-cool your refrigerator by plugging into your home's AC outlet before going on a road trip, it helps reduce energy use if you are using a portable power station at your destination. These are not cheap, but should last a long time and hold up well.
For SUVs, my two favorite are the ICECO APL55 and the Dometic CFX3 55IM (55 liter capacity). These are great for multi-day trips. For shorter excursions, I like the ICECO APL JP40 (40 Quart capacity) and the Dometic CFX3 45
ICECO APL55 $859 - https://amzn.to/3K7NevL
Black or silver
Can be temperature controlled via phone app.
The refrigerator alarm rings when the lid is left open.
12/24V DC ports are installed on both sides of the fridge so you are not limited which side of the car it goes.
4 USB outlets designed for charging mobile devices.
Dual zone fridge - adding or removing the removable divider allows automatic switching between single and dual zone modes providing 2 separate zones for refrigeration and freezing with 2 independent digital controllers. Being able to set two areas to different temperatures is a really nice feature.
Cooling range from -4°F to 68°F(-20℃~20℃) to meet your freezing or refrigeration needs. MAX mode for fast cooling and ECO mode for energy saving.
Dometic CFX3 55IM $981.48 - https://amzn.to/3wGQcUW The following are perfect for shorter 3 day-weekend trips and less expensive.
Has its' own ice maker, allowing you to have ice when you want it. The rapid freeze plate can make ice in just a few hours without affecting the temperature of the rest of the cooler.
Temperature range of up to -7°F, this 24V electric cooler can cool or freeze your food and drinks quickly and efficiently. Plus, it uses less power than a 60W light bulb, making it energy-efficient.
Plug it into the 12V connector in your car. It can get power via AC, DC or Solar and built in 3-stage dynamic battery protection system prevents dead car batteries.
Phone App: allows temperature control via WiFi or Bluetooth and provides performance history
ICECO JP40 12V APP Controlled Refrigerator Portable Freezer (40 Liter / 42 Quart Capacity) $529 - https://amzn.to/3V3lyP5
Dometic CFX3 45 Powered Cooler (45 Liter / 47.5 Quart capacity) $949 - https://amzn.to/3UQ4Ot8
Portable Stoves
Having a portable camping stove on a picnic offers unparalleled convenience and a host of benefits. Imagine arriving at a picturesque picnic spot, only to realize that cold sandwiches just aren't the best choice for this view. With a portable stove, you can quickly whip up hot, delicious meals right on the spot, from sizzling bacon and eggs for breakfast to a savory stir-fry for lunch. These stoves are compact, lightweight, and easy to set up, making them perfect for impromptu outdoor cooking. Additionally, many state and national parks do not allow open fires. So if you enjoy grilling some steaks, burgers or chicken like I do, then the Coleman 3-in-1 or the 2-in-1 stoves should be on your list. You can buy the griddles or grills separately as well. Portable stoves allow you to take that picnic date to the next level and make this outing one you'll talk about for years to come.
I've narrowed the list down to five portable stoves. The best choice will depend on whether you will use it solely for picnics or other purposes like remote camping.
Coleman Triton+ 2-Burner with Ignition Button - https://amzn.to/4arn5CX
This is the classic camping stove every camper is familiar with. It has proven itself as a dependable stove. This is my number one choice for value. They are inexpensive, last forever, lightweight and compact. This is perfect for picnics or camping and there is no need for matches with the instant ignite button.
Coleman Hyperflame Fyresergeant 2-Burner 3-in-1 Grill - https://amzn.to/4bJ4aoj
The 3-in-1 allows you to use the regular burners for pans, but it also comes with accessories to grill. You can also purchase the griddle separately. Great for camping, picnics and BBQs. This is one of my favorite Coleman stoves.
Coleman Tabletop 2-in-1 Camping Grill / Stove - https://amzn.to/3QRxYXI
I own an older version of this one. I've had mine for almost 30 years and still works perfectly! The newer model appears to have a larger grill area. I highly recommend it, I love mine. Great for camping, picnics and BBQs
GSI Outdoors Selkirk 540+ - https://amzn.to/4bqqZNA
If you want something similar to the Coleman Triton but cooler looking and with better flame control, then this is one of the best choices out there. It looks sharp and is excellent for camping and picnics.
Gas ONE GS-1000 - https://amzn.to/456uwyB
If you do backpacking and want a stove you can additionally use for picnics and camping, then a single burner stove might be the best choice for you. Size and weight is important when hiking. I personally would not use a single burner for camping if I'm near the car or for picnics. I often find myself heating two items at the same time. I'd prefer to have a single burner for hiking and a separate 2 burner stove like my Coleman for camping and picnics. Single burners are cheap enough where most backpackers own both. For a single burner this is an excellent choice. As of the time of posting the price was only $34.99 with 4 butane fuel containers and a carrying case. I do prefer to have all my different stoves use the same fuel, which I typically use propane. However if you don't care about mixing fuel types, then this is a good deal.
Portable Lights
Spending some time in an outdoor location with a beautiful view in the evening can be very romantic, and no one wants to shorten a wonderful date. These portable lights can be charged via sunlight or powered via USB. No need to end the fun when the sun goes down when you have portable lights. Here are my favorites.
MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights (These are the ones I personally use and they have been great. ) They are versatile, hang them on poles, branches or on the tailgate of the SUV. They are compact and are both solar and USB powered. A variety of brightness settings. - https://amzn.to/4aDMmKh
Gewiny Portable Outdoor Table Lamp - https://amzn.to/4bwaKPn
GGII Portable Outdoor Table Lamp - https://amzn.to/3Ron8ZN
BioLite Alpenglow USB Portable Outdoor Table Lamp (this one works great as a camping light as well, can make half of it light up) - https://amzn.to/3wEgGqo
Tryme Solar & USB Table Lamp (not meant to replace an indoor lamp, this is more for a little light next to the chairs or on a table while outdoors) - https://amzn.to/4dYkzqI
LangPlus+ USB Outdoor String Lights 25 feet (these definitely add an elegant tough to the evening setting. You can buy the string light poles and place them around your sitting area and plug into any USB connector. - https://amzn.to/3yxHadA
There you have it, these accessories will make that picnic something special. And after-all, shouldn't every day with loved ones be something special?
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