Creating a Romantic Picnic for Two Without Draining Your Wallet

Thinking of ideas for a day with that special someone can be a headache, whether it's a casual date or a long-term relationship. Lack of cash can be a real bummer, especially if you really want to make the occasion unforgettable. One doesn't have to spend a great deal of time or money to be able to have an excellent outing with their sweetheart. Picnicking can be fun, unique these days, cheap, and very special when you put just a small amount of effort into it. What kind of picnic you decide to make depends on the person you will be going with and how long you have known them as to what you will include. You must think of or ask what their favorite places are, their favorite times of day, consider their schedule, what drinks that they like, the food which they enjoy, and you must also keep safety precautions in mind whenever traveling, and take along items to make your dinner comfortable. Although money is a big part of what type of picnic you put together, it doesn't take much of it to give your date a personal and customized touch. Not only are these types of occasions very cost effective, but also very romantic. Anyone you take on a lovely picnic will appreciate the time you put into it.

The destination and scenery are key in setting the mood of the rest of your date, so choose wisely. Think about whether your love interest is a morning, afternoon, or night person and which would suit best for you both in making the picnic. Think about the types of things that they like, such as flowers or animals. Locating parks, gardens, fountains, or even petting zoos can help you decide where to set the location for your romantic picnic. Outdoor lovers will enjoy sitting in a park or garden and taking in the scenery. Some people like being close to water, as in fountains or natural waterfalls. These would make great locations to have the soothing sounds of water flowing in the background. Animal lovers would absolutely be happy to go through a petting zoo and interact with the various types of animals which they have there. Parks and gardens make for quiet settings, and are wonderful for when you want little noise and interference while trying to get to know someone or just would like a peaceful evening. Fountains and waterfalls provide a bit of low-level nature sounds as a backdrop, as well as lovely scenery. Petting zoos are for those who like to be hands on and want a more active background for their date. Non of these cost very much as most of them are free to participate in. Your date's schedule and favorite times of day are also key in choosing a destination for your picnic. You have to consider the times that locations are open and what times that they close. You will also want to make sure that you are picking a time in which the person you are taking will have time to get ready and be refreshed to enjoy the date. Try not to go anywhere which you are unfamiliar with when going on a picnic, because you could get lost or end up in an area which is rampant with crime. Ask around to see which spots are perfect and safe for picnics, and you might find some sound advice that you never thought of. If you want to take someone to a place which you haven't visited or seen very often, go there beforehand with a friend or relative and take a map along. This and visiting for at least 3 or more times will familiarize you with the surroundings, where the best spots are, the rules of the area, and the layout of it.

The food and drink are an important element in making the picnic a hit since that is mostly what it's about. Knowing what types of foods and drinks your date likes is essential to putting the menu together. You can save a lot of money here, while making an enjoyable meal since you most likely won't be spending half of what you would typically on a restaurant dinner and movie date. Try taking foods that are easy to consume, don't spoil easily, easily packed along, don't take much time to prepare, and that are liked or favorites of the person you are creating the dinner for. Sandwiches are great or picnics, especially if your outing is going to be a casual one. Try to stay away from dressing based sandwiches, such as salad types of meat fillings. Don't take messy foods, as they can attract lots of ants and make your dinner difficult. Potato chips are a regularly used picnic item, because they are easily consumed and carried along. As drinks go, it depends on the type of occasion and mood you are trying to set. Sodas, wine, and bottled water make good take along beverages for outside dinners. Bringing a cooler allows you more flexibility, of course, in what types of foods that you include in your dinner. A casual park or garden picnic is probably best with turkey or ham sandwiches, a couple of varieties of chips, two different kinds of sodas, and a few bottles of water. Using a cooler is better for those more romantic or evening picnics, although you can use one or two anytime for a sweet daytime outing. This way, if you want to make a more elaborate dinner or are pretty good at cooking, you can showcase your skills for your special someone. All types of foods can be taken with chest coolers, such as chicken or ham salads, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, or anything else your date may like that you want to bring. This allows for cooking a full fledged meal such as spaghetti, vegetables, and bread sticks with a glass of your favorite wine. For these types of foods you will want to use hot plates, crock pots, and aluminum foil for keeping the heat inside as well as the cooler for storing leftovers. Just organizing everything in tupperware for storage makes putting all of it together quick, easy, and neat. Whatever you decide to make for eating, make sure to bring a good amount so that you both have enough to satisfy your hunger.

No matter what type of trip you are taking, you must always keep safety and comfort in mind. Taking along a first aid kit allows you to be prepared for those cuts, scrapes, bumps, and bruises you didn't anticipate. If you're going out far, bring a map, compass, a spot light, printed out driving directions for to and from the location, two fully charged cell phones for you both, extra chargers or batteries, and park your car as close to your destination as possible. This will allow you to find your way out if you get lost, call for help if you need, and have the ability to get back to your car quickly when you need to leave or retrieve anything. Always tell someone you trust, who knows the area you are traveling to, and can get to you quickly if needed where you are going. You want the picnic to be comfortable, so take along a thick, darkly colored blanket to sit on. To relax and look at the stars overhead, bring a couple of thick pillows. You may or may not want to take folding chairs and a folding table to sit at instead of on the ground. Keep baby or sanitary hand wipes with you in either your first aid kit or in your basket, so that hands and messes can be cleaned easily. Your date may also appreciate some music in the background or watching a movie on your laptop computer. To keep bugs at bay and set a romantic mood, bring along four or more citronella candles and a lighter or matches. Make sure and be careful when using these so as not to create a horrible fire outdoors. This is another reason that keeping water with you is a good idea, in case you need it to put a fire out. Following safety guidelines and being prepared makes for a much better picnic date.