Plan a Father's Day Picnic

What better way to celebrate Father's Day than with a picnic? It's a chance for the whole family to get together and enjoy the outdoors, food, and being together. For Dad, it's the perfect chance to relax and hang out with his family after long days of work. A picnic is the ideal way to take advantage of summer weather and celebrate Father's Day!

A good picnic always starts with a great location. You might already have a favorite picnic area, but it's good to check out new places sometimes as well. Also, remember that a lot of other families might be having picnics for Father's Day as well and your regular area might get a bit crowded if it tends to be fairly popular.

The ideal picnic spot should have both sun and shade, soft grass or sand and space to run around in. This could be a beach with trees along the edge, a patch of grass in your local park or wildlife reserve or even your own back yard! Explore your options before the big day and don't make Dad have to deal with any of it.

Food is obviously the main point of a picnic and it's important that you select the right food, whether homemade or bought. The ideal picnic will be with food that lasts without going soggy (like a tomato sandwich) or weird (peanut butter sandwich). A good selection is always nice, too.

You will want to have at least one type of salad. Most people think of potato salad when they think of picnics and you can certainly go with that classic. Look online for new twists to old recipes. A pasta or rice salad can also be good for a picnic, but don't overlook the charm of a good vegetable salad either. Leave the dressing off until you are ready to eat so the salad doesn't get soggy.

Sandwiches are another standard picnic fare, but it is best if you carry the ingredients separately in Tupperware containers and assemble them once you arrive. This avoids soggy bread and mashed ingredients. You might also consider trying some new, unique sandwiches. Tacos are another great picnic food, perfect for on-the-spot assembly.

Apart from the traditional picnic foods, you might try baked chicken (as opposed to fried), bean salad, or even stuffed avocados, tomatoes or eggplant. Look for new recipes and turn this picnic into something really special! Just remember that food should be kept cold in a cooler or it will tend to spoil quickly.

Dessert can be as simple as chocolate chip cookies, or as complicated as an apple pie. That is, don't get complicated with desserts. They tend to smush easily and it's far better to stick with something simple than to arrive at your picnic location and discover that your beautiful cake is ruined. Try turnovers, cinnamon buns or something similar if you want an original idea.

Don't forget to bring the essentials! These include bug repellent, so all can enjoy the afternoon instead of being eaten alive. A citronella candle is ideal for while you eat, it doesn't contaminate the food like a spray would. A big blanket is a must, for sitting on during the picnic and sprawling out on afterwards. Toys for the kids is a good idea. Bring along a ball, a Frisbee and anything else that is appropriate for the outdoors.

Sunscreen is a good idea, too, unless you want to go home with a bad memory! And above all, don't forget the camera! This is the ideal time to take lots of photos (or maybe even video) and later compile them into a special Father's Day album.

A picnic doesn't have to be complicated or packed with activities, but it does require some planning. Make sure you have everything packed ahead of time and even make the food up the night before. There's no reason why a Father's Day picnic can't be a relaxing event if you start early enough!