October 26, 2019

Five Steps to a Cozy Fall Picnic

From the crisp cool air to the vibrant colors covering the trees and ground, the pumpkin and apple aromas and flavors everywhere, and the overall comfy cozy feeling of fall, what’s not to love about this gorgeous season? So why not get out and enjoy it to the fullest?

One of my favorite things to do when we go on our fall color tours is to pack a picnic lunch and look for a spot along the way to sit and take in the views and enjoy some of my favorite eats with the people I love. It’s a great way to make the most of the season and to make beautiful memories together. Teddy and I have had fall picnics on our fall wine and color tours and we’ve packed picnic lunches with our kiddos as well and we all look forward to those fun adventures together.

When planning these fun picnic adventures, we like to follow five simple steps to make for a comfy, cozy, and beautiful fall picnic.

1. A Meal with a View

Whether you’d prefer a hillside spot with views far and wide or a cute little spot along a trail tucked in the woods, a place with beautiful views is an important part to a cozy fall picnic. If you’re more the planning type, you can do some research or go location scouting ahead of time to find the perfect spot.

Don’t have time for that? No problem! Being spontaneous and looking for a spot along the way just adds to the adventure! Do be careful to choose a spot that is either public or you have permission to use to avoid trespassing. Thankfully, we are blessed to live in a place that is very scenic and has a lot of public parks, state land, national forests, lakeshores, and more, so we are always able to come across a lot of options along our routes. Overall, pick a spot that makes you happy… A spot with gorgeous views to take in, with room for you and your friends, family, or loved one to get comfy, and a spot that you won’t soon forget.

2. A Comfy Seat

Comfy seating is another important step to a cozy picnic. For this fall picnic, we got cozy in the bed of this old truck with big fluffy pillows and blankets. A truckbed is a great option for seating that goes with you and you can make it comfy by bringing along pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, cushions, or any other option that makes it a cozier experience for you and your picnic partner(s). The back of an SUV would also work well to set up a cozy place to picnic. Although it doesn’t really offer seating, even the trunk of a car could be a great spot to set up your food and drinks.

Don’t have a space in your vehicle to picnic in? No problem! A simple large blanket to picnic on is all you really need. I would recommend using a blanket that is washable as it will likely get a little dirty on the ground. In the past we have used anything from a bed sheet to a water resistant picnic blanket or even a cute fabric tablecloth or shower curtain because they wash up well. Add to your picnic blanket with a few cute cushions or pillows and throw blankets to keep you warm and create a comfier setting.

3. Good Eats

I like to pack a variety of favorite foods and treats and make a fun charcuterie board for all to enjoy, but you can get creative with your picnic menu. Some fun ideas to try:

Make or buy some yummy gourmet sandwiches and pair with a salad or pasta salad, hummus and veggies, or another tasty side.
Bring a thermos of soup or chili to warm you up on a chilly fall day. Don’t forget to pack any soup/chili toppings you might want in little baggies or jars and some bread or crackers.
Bring a cheese board and grab all your charcuterie faves! For this charcuterie board I brought a tray of salami, capicola, and prosciutto, a couple of my favorite hard cheeses like Merlot BellaVitano, a few softer more traditional cheeses like pepperjack and colby jack, a spreadable cheese like goat cheese, hummus, olives, crackers, bread, pistachios, and some sweet additions as well. For sweeter tastes, I added some dried apricots and sliced apples with caramel dip. I usually like to add some dark chocolates as well. You could customize this with any of your favorite finger foods. If we have the kiddos, I tend to create a mix of adult tastes and more kid friendly options like colby jack cheese, turkey deli meat, etc.
Make it a dessert picnic and bring a few of your favorite sweets. Cookies, mini pies, cupcakes, a pumpkin roll, doughnuts, or muffins would all be fun dessert picnic options!
Picnic lighter with some fresh fruits and veggies with hummus or other veggie dip. Add some crackers if you’d like, too.

4. Grab Your Drinks

Of course you need to wash all those good eats down with a tasty beverage! Since we often color tour through Michigan’s wine country, grabbing a bottle of our favorite local wine is usually our top choice. Some yummy options for picnic beverages:

Apple cider is one of our favorite fall beverages to enjoy and is kid friendly. You could heat it up with some yummy spices and bring a thermos of warm spiced cider to help you warm up on a chilly fall day.
A bottle of wine with some non-glass cups or mugs to toast to the gorgeous fall views.
A thermos of hot chocolate or coffee are sure to warm you up and cozy up your picnic and are great to bring in addition to any other beverages you bring along.

5. Create Ambiance

Creating a cozy ambiance can really take your picnic to that next level. To make the most of your cozy fall picnic experience, you can add cute decorative items that are also functional. Pick a picnic blanket that coordinates well with your pillows and throw blankets, select a cute cheese board, choose cute mugs for your drinks, and use a vintage picnic basket and thermos that have character to create a beautiful scene that feels like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie. If you’d like, stick a few pumpkins in when you’re packing up your vehicle to put out when you set up. Better yet, make a stop at an apple orchard or pumpkin patch along the way and set out your finds when you stop to picnic. You can also add candles and music to really create the perfect ambiance. These extra touches will add to the feel and make the memory even more beautiful as well as look great if you decide to snap some photos to remember your adventure by.

This little picnic didn’t take long to pull together and I used a lot of items we already had, purchasing only a few items and the food. Your picnic can come together at any budget, depending on what you choose to have for food and drinks and what you choose to use for seating and decor. Don’t be afraid to use items you already have at home. You’d be surprised how cute and cozy your picnic can feel with just a few blankets and some tasty treats. However much or little planning and effort goes into your fall picnic, the important part is to enjoy the moment and make memories together.