How to Plan the Perfect Picnic, According to a TripSavvy Editor

"One of the best summer activities combines both time in the park and outdoor dining while still letting you social distance: The classic picnic."

TRAVEL TODAY Picnics How to Plan the Perfect Picnic, According to a TripSavvy Editor Summer is my favorite season in New York. While that might be a controversial opinion to some who hate the heat, I find that it brings out the best of the city. After a long harsh winter, all I want to do is watch a movie in the park or have a BBQ with a friend who is lucky enough to have a backyard. As most events have been canceled and staying inside is encouraged, this year is a bit of an outlier. However, one of the best summer activities combines both time in the park and outdoor dining while still letting you social distance: The classic picnic. After a week spent mostly indoors, I decided to surprise my boyfriend with a picnic. I picked Prospect Park in Brooklyn since it has large grassy fields that are prime for social distancing as well as live music. The city's annual summer concert series usually brings a variety of acts to the park for free, but because the organized shows were canceled this year, we stopped to enjoy the street performers near the Grand Army Plaza entrance instead. While different restaurants around the city have been offering premade picnic baskets, for this I went the homemade route. I came supplied with all the essentials: a wicker basket packed with portable speakers, a tapestry to sit on, a summery cocktail in a to-go container, and an embarrassing amount of food for two people (which, yes, we did finish). So the next time you're in NYC, plan a picnic at Prospect Park. If you don't feel like prepping and lugging food all the way to the park, no problem. You can pig out at Smorgasborg, the food festival that typically takes place every Sunday in the summer. And if you want to stretch your legs after your meal, the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden are right nearby. With summer winding down and the temperatures slowly cooling, you should take advantage of the last bits of picnic weather while you can. Where will you be picnicking this Labor Day weekend?   Taylor McIntyre   Visual Editor, TripSavvy Accessories Waterproof, Packable, and Pet-Friendly: These Are the Best Picnic Blankets READ NOW Accessories 9 Picnic Baskets to Transport Your Gourmet Goodies to the Beach or Park READ NOW Tech & Gear These Backpack Coolers Are Easy to Tote and Perfectly Insulated READ NOW Accessories 8 Great Beach Chairs for Kids, Those with Bad Backs, and Everyone In Between READ NOW Health & Beauty Protect Your Skin from the Summer Heat with These Natural Sunscreens READ NOW Tech & Gear The Best Binoculars for Bird Watching, Stargazing, and Wildlife Spotting READ NOW Camping These Hammocks Are the Perfect Alternative to Relaxing on the Hard Ground READ NOW Food & Drink 8 Flasks That Will Keep Your Libations Cold for Hours READ NOW VACATION LIKE A PRO You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Travel Today newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here A DOTDASH BRAND 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2020 Dotdash.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.