This is the time of year when parks suddenly fill with happy picnickers toting hampers, blankets, and hot dogs. What about you? Do you love picnicking outdoors in the back yard or the park, or do you prefer to enjoy the outdoors from a screened-in porch or solid deck? Tell us, and if you have a favorite menu or way to picnic, tell us all about that too.
Any favorite menus? Good picnic blankets? Favorite spots? Do you picnic at home, in your own yard or on your front stoop? Or do you prefer more exotic locales?
Related: On Charcuterie for Dinner
(Image: Flickr member startcooking kathy & amandine licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (15)
Absolutely! Living in NYC during the summer I'm forever yearning to eat alfresco. You'll find me in Central Park afterwork or on a Sunday afternoon with anything from a popsicle to a Gourmet Spread of Lamb and Couscous soaking up the sun and enjoying my supper.
We just had a picnic for dinner last night! We went to a small park near our apartment. It was great - it was in the high 80s here in Seattle (where almost no one has AC) so there were lots of people there.
We just picked up some take-out Chinese and people watched. Great fun, especially the guy who was playing T-ball with his young son. When it was his turn at bat, he walked the "bases" on his hands to give the boy extra time to retrieve the ball :-)
Well sure, but we call them 'tailgates.'
prospect park for me, but yeah, in nyc it's often the only way to eat outside, and it's fun! did it this past weekend-brought snacks and doggies and sunned for a few hours amid the soccer and frisbee players, then whipped out the mini grill for hamburger grilling in the picnic area. hurray summer!
Oh this is so my poll, we've been having picnics in the park one evening mid week every summer, since I moved LA I was 19, in fact I learned to cook savory dishes from having to come up with something new for the theme every week. All our friends have an open invitation every year, and sometimes we freeze our asses off, cause we're right next to the Pacific and it can be cold even in the summers,
I really, really want to enjoy picnics, but I am simply not comfortable sitting on the ground. Now if I could haul out one of those beanbag chairs... I long for one of those beautiful picnic baskets with everything tucked in so nicely, but until I know I would use it, I can only imagine.
In theory, I love them. In reality, they never live up to my expectations.
We're moving to a neighborhood that has an outdoor ampatheatre. We frequently take a picnic basket and a chilled bottle of vino before the evening's entertainment. In my picnic basket, I have a tablecloth/spread, real plates and napkins, real wine glasses and real flatware. Just because one is outside, doesn't mean one must forgo the niceties.
I was never a picnic person before, but my daughter is in love with eating outdoors. Even in February she wanted to eat her snack on a park bench (no, sweetheart, it's sleeting). All winter she talked about "June, when we can eat on the grass."
I didn't like it much before because it seemed like a lot of extra work, but having a kid, I'm doing a lot of extra work ANYWAY so why not?
I love picnics. My sweetie and I, along with assorted like-minded friends, usually eat in the park once or twice a week all summer.
Picnics were such an integral part of our early relationship that my husband proposed on one.
I love picnics! My favorite is to go hiking with a picnic.
let me wax poetic, i have camped from ny to florida to california. the badlands, yellowstone and yosemite. i love a thermos of hot tea, so soothing... just the word thermos.
there is no greater dining experience than under the majesty of the heavens!!!! the best!
We were having a picnic last Saturday in the shade of a tree. A tiny caterpillar fell on my neck I brushed it off and have been the woman with crocodile skin rash for a week. I've gone off picnics.
I haven't kicked off the official picnic season yet this year, but here's some delicious recipes from my picnics at the end of last summer. http://www.salmoncabin.com/2008/10/end-of-summer-picnic.html
Looking forward to reprising a few of last year's favorites and trying some new additions!