Whether you prepare the food yourself or pick up something from the drive-thru, pack a picnic and head outdoors to make some sweet summer memories.

Summer picnics pack sweet memories

There are so many things to love about summer. With the children out of school, the warmer weather, and the longer days, it gives us more opportunities to spend time outdoors with family and friends.

One of my favorite summer activities is having a picnic.

As a young child, I spent many summer evenings at Eastman Cabins, where I delighted in catching crawdads in plastic cups, trying to walk down the creek by only stepping on rocks, riding my bike around the cabins and campgrounds, walking on the trail in the woods, and playing at every playground.

I knew every single part of that recreation area so well, and I never wanted to go home.

My father’s family always has a picnic outside every year around the July 4th holiday.

Even though I don’t play on the playground equipment anymore, I still enjoy volleyball and basketball, and my friend and I sometimes bring our bicycles to ride around the recreation area and campgrounds. It’s always nice to see everyone and to sample each other’s favorite recipes.

One of my cousins sometimes brings ingredients to make homemade ice cream.

When I was a child, the ice cream maker he would bring had to be cranked by hand.

All of the children gladly took a turn cranking.

Somehow it seemed like fun and not work, and the end result was always worth it.

When our girls were younger, picnics were a regular summer event (actually spring and fall as well). Sometimes these picnics were a spontaneous event. We would just drive through Pal’s to pick up some food and drive to School.

We would eat our food and spend hours playing on the playground.

Even at home if the weather was nice, you might find us spreading a blanket out in the yard for our meal.

My favorite kind of picnic now is one that is packed in a backpack to be enjoyed at the end of a long hike in the woods.

More and more favorite kind of picnic now is one that is packed in a backpack to be enjoyed at the end of a long hike in the woods.

It is important to ensure the quality of the picnic bag & cooler bag .