Hello!

42 Comments

The flowers are blooming, the air is fragrant – spring has finally made her grand arrival. What better way to celebrate the most uplifting of seasons than to plan a perfect family picnic!

I still remember those sunlit afternoons, running around outdoors, playing family games, and savouring the flavours of mum’s sumptuous picnic feast.

Now it is our turn to create those golden childhood memories for our children. How do we keep the tradition alive?

Pick your paradise

The first step is to choose the ultimate spring family picnic location. Where do you want to go? I always like to go somewhere where the kids can run around and we can be away from it all. National parks are my favorite destination. You get lots of space, fresh, clean air, and a few hiking trails to enjoy after eating your meal.

Other great spots include:

  • Local parks – A nearby park with plenty of green is a quick and easy location for an impromptu family picnic, and you may have the advantage of a playground for the kids.
  • The beach – Don’t forget to pack the beach umbrella! If you live near the ocean, there is nothing more enjoyable, and relaxing, than a family picnic by the water.
  • Lakes – Freshwater can be just as fun as the ocean. The nearby water makes a great addition to your traditional family picnic games.
  • Botanical gardens – Spending the day amongst vibrant flora and feasting on delicious picnic food is a recipe for a magical family experience.

Picnic food ideas

My favourite part of family picnics is the food. There is something special about picnic food. It is simple, fresh, and it always tastes perfect.

Pack foods that are pre-prepared so you don’t have to worry about chopping, mixing, and concocting during picnic time.

Here are some perfect family picnic food ideas:

  • Quiche – you can mix in whatever veggies and cheeses that your kids will enjoy.
  • Pasta salad – depending on what you put in your salad you can enjoy a full, colourful, healthy meal with grains, veggies, cheese, meat and other additions.
  • Sandwiches – make something special for your family picnic feast – think tapenades, mustard spreads, and fresh baguettes of bread.
  • Crackers, veggies, and dips – a great aioli or chutney will make your picnic feast really memorable.
  • Something sweet – keep it simple with gourmet chocolate, fruit, and some wine for mum, or go all out with a spring-inspired cake (think berries and vanilla).

Keep in mind a spring family picnic is about having fun and celebrating the season with the people you love – don’t burden yourself with an intense menu.

You can have a perfect feast with simple, prep-free items like cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits and spreads.

Try a no-hassle picnic hamper. You can pre-order tasty gourmet selections, pack a few other accessories and head out the door to enjoy your picnic – no mum labour required.

The don’t forget picnic checklist

There are a few things you want to pack. This is a quick list that covers all the essentials:

  • Sunblock
  • Insect repellent
  • Picnic blankets
  • Games (cricket bat, frisbee)
  • Camera
  • Water
  • Moist towelettes for keeping hands clean
  • Extra nappies

Keep in mind where you are having your picnic. You may need more sun protection at the beach while a day hiking trails may require a couple extra bottles of water and plenty of insect repellent.

Dress everyone accordingly for the great outdoors – you may want to pack extra jackets in case you have a cool spring evening.

Have fun planning. Be creative, keep it simple, and welcome the season this year with the ultimate spring family picnic.

Do you have any tips for a great family picnic? Please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com
We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • I really like how close we are to a few parks they make spending the weekends outdoors easy we spend time around the water, playground and big spaces free from the hustle and bustle.. making a picnic and sitting down and enjoying this relaxing outdoor experience and at the end you feel great.

    Reply

  • I love going for picnic’s :)

    Reply

  • We are lucky. We have 4 playgrounds within walking distance, one only a few doors away. All have seating. Some of the equipment actually has built-in seats that the little ones can rest on and have their picnic – under supervision. Two of them are either end of a wetland which is frequented by ducks, white ibis and other birds. Please be aware that you should not feed the ducks or throw food in the water. Bread is the worst offender as it can make ducks sick as they can’t digest it properly and it upsets theirt stomachs. Food not eaten ferments in the water. Together with other factors it can contribute to the formation of algae. There is one small black bird that eats the reeds in the water but bites a piece off, eats part of it and spits the rest back in the water. A “caretaker” observed during meal breaks as he was determined to find out how the water got full of what looked like green slime within a few days of him cleaning it all off. We watched them a few times when we had the little one in the stroller and we sat on of the benches in the shaded area.
    We always take a picnic even if it is just snacks and bottles of water. I think water is the most important thing. Drinking enough prevents dehydration. Also if one of them has a mishap and skins or cuts themself, you can use water to remove dirt and germs until you can attend to it more if necessary.

    Reply

  • We’ve had quite a few picnics in the past and even a local park next door to our home. All you really need is a mat , and a basket of easy foods and drinks , paper cups , plates , cutlery . It is healthy being outdoors and is good for everyone to enjoy either with or without kids . Best of all it is fun without too much expense and if you can sit beside a pond of ducks , that is even better !

    Reply

  • I love picnics. In particular where my dog is allowed too. He loves going out with us. :-)

    Reply

  • I love picnics! We often pack one up and head to the beach. Food, drinks, games, kids and dogs. We all head home afterwards exhausted but thoroughly enjoyed our day

    Reply

  • Wine for mum??!!! Better make sure you go somewhere where drinking would not be breaking the law – can’t think of may great picnic spots where this is allowed…

    Reply

  • Down to earth (excuse the pun), affordable family fun. Thanks for the article

    Reply

  • Great article. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • Picnics are great fun way to spend a meal. Generally a chance I can get the kids to actually eat something.

    Reply

  • picnic is enjoyable

    Reply

  • the flowers blooming

    Reply

  • Spending the day on the yarra with fresh food/having a b.b.q on a sunny day is the best!


    • yeah sounds great. love getting outdoors for picnics

    Reply

  • we all love the family picnics

    Reply

  • spring time

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join