Early fall can be a period of soft mourning for many. Kids are back at school, life is back to reality, and parents lament the time spent with their loved ones nearby. Yet, who said the holiday season is over?
Most parts of the United States can still enjoy a second summer well into the later months, not least those further south. Furthermore, while some mourn the loss of their sunshine and backyard fun, others consider it a chance to picnic.
Taking It to the Road
There are few things more rewarding than a seamlessly planned picnic, better still, one that includes a road trip. Fortunately, great insight can be gained from a recent Mental Floss article. In it, contributor CaLea Johnson reveals the “Best State Parks For Picnics, According To Visitors.”
Her choice picks are as follows:
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Florida Keys;
- Liberty State Park, New Jersey;
- Blue Spring State Park, Florida;
- Bear Mountain State Park, New York;
- Colt State Park, Rhode Island;
- Letchworth State Park, New York;
- Laka Sammamish State Park, Washington.
There Are Picnic Spots and Then There Are Picnic Spots
The top spot won’t surprise many, considering the weather advantages the tropics have. For anyone lucky enough to live nearby, its description is welcoming. “The park provides charcoal grills and picnic tables for your cooking convenience,” writes Johnson. “You can even rent some snorkeling equipment from the picnic area’s concession stand and take a post-meal dip in the ocean.”
Of course, not everybody can drop everything and hit the Florida Keys in mid-September, but they can indeed find somewhere within reach. For instance, New Jersey residents have two miles of picnic areas at Liberty State Park. These zones are permit-free for groups of less than 20 people, which makes them perfect for birthdays or other celebrations.
Getting the Picnic Right
Going for a picnic needn’t involve dramatic scenery or facilities; the event in itself can be the reward. The act of transporting a meal to the great outdoors just for the sake of it is a time-honored tradition in America, dating back centuries.
For those inclined to start looking for more outdoor eating spots, some simple rules apply. There are levels to the picnic game, and who better to consult than the British School of Excellence?
The etiquette platform lists a charter of sorts for those who are yet to picnic. Some rules are sensible, like choosing a sunny and shady spot for all weather needs. Additional rules: no sharp knives (cut your food up in advance), share at all times, and be sure to compliment anybody’s homemade products. The guide also suggests the best clothing: “comfortable and modest.”
The Decline and Rebound of Picnics
Sadly, picnicking in America declined in the ’80s; a 1982 and 1983 Census Bureau report noted a drop in enthusiasm. Steven D. Stark of the New York Times reported how its final call was coming. “In 1965, 60 percent of Americans said they had picnicked in the preceding year; in 1982 and ’83 only 48 percent — four-fifths as many,” he wrote.
In the decades that followed, convenience became king in terms of food preferences, making the ordeal of packing a picnic somewhat pesky. In more recent times, the pandemic-inspired rise of food delivery apps looked likely to set this tradition back further.
The Kids Are Alright
When the world was shrouded in fear of the unknown, forcing the world’s citizens to distance themselves socially, many turned to the outdoors. Signs of the picnic basket’s return have been slowly making their way back, though not in a traditional sense. Some might be shocked to see it’s the younger generation championing the humble al fresco, packed meal.
Of course, rather than just enjoying picnicking and being done with it, our youth are taking it ten steps further. The Internet now has a corner dedicated to “picniccore,” labeled by the Fandom Wiki as “an aesthetic based on picnics, gingham patterns, pastries, and jam.”
Taking Things to the Extreme
To older eyes, this translates as carrying out an activity centered on recreating an outdoor-style ambiance for all to enjoy. There are two categories to this phenomenon: aesthetics and functionality. The page explains that “the fashion can consist of cute picnic dresses, but if you prefer practical clothes, you may choose to wear aprons.”
A cursory look online will reward any browser with endless video clips of picnic situations, such as this one from TikToker elisetanriverdi. In the video, she pans to the backdrop of a lavender crop; in the foreground, a wicker picnic hamper with a glass of summer punch. No eating takes place; presumably, this happens afterward.
Lavender Field Farms is tagged, though it is hard to know whether this is Lavender Field Farms in Michigan or one of many elsewhere. Notably, clicking on any of the #lavenderfarm links guides browsers to dozens of other lavender field picnic clips. It shows that within this “picniccore” idea lies all kinds of other sub-criteria. Nonetheless, aesthetics aside, picnics are pointless without good picnic food.
From Sandwiches to Sharing
There are so many variations we can take on the picnic hamper, and there are no rules for what one brings. These Hawaiian Roll Italian sliders are a perfect addition to any picnic basket, requiring very little effort for great outdoor dining. Just a simple tweak can turn a routine picnic into something special.
While this kind of approach is all one needs to make a picnic worthwhile, others may take things further. You could go for sandwiches or rolls, or you might turn the dial up, choosing these Korean kimbap rolls from a New York Times Food post.
Regardless of your need to plan, food-wise, anything goes in a picnic. Young picnickers might be devoted picniccore adherents, while others want to get out and breathe some fresh air.
Whatever happens, as the new generation of foodies carry a torch for picnics, the tradition isn’t going away anytime soon.
Ben is a lifestyle, travel, news, and features writer with bylines for several publications.
Raised in England and with a career background in international education, Ben now lives in southern Spain with his wife and son. He has lived on three continents, including Africa, Asia, and North America, and has worked diverse jobs, ranging from traveling film projectionist to landscape gardener.
He offers a unique, well-traveled perspective on life, with several specialties related to his travels. Ben loves writing about food, music, parenting, education, culture, and film, among many other topics. His passion is Gen-X geekery, namely movies, music, and television.