A picnic is always a good idea if the weather is nice. It’s a great (and cheap!) reminder that you can turn any location with a view into a temporary café on a blanket. It gives you a reason to go exploring as well as an opportunity to sit back and relax for an hour or two. We seem to be getting busier with each passing year, so any opportunity to stop and appreciate what the world has to offer is welcome. There are endless picnic spots throughout the United States, from local parks to national parks. So we decided to help narrow things down by finding the best places to pack a picnic. Enjoy!
The dramatic and diverse coastline of Northern California awaits! There’s plenty to explore and no such thing as a bad picnic spot here, whether you’re admiring the curvy coast of Chimney Rock, overlooking Point Reyes Beach, or watching the Tule Elk roam at Tomales Point. After that, use that food fuel to explore one of the many marine protected areas.
This is probably the place to picnic if you want to feel like you’re on another planet. It’s difficult to believe we have the opportunity to eat with such a view in front of us. Yosemite Valley is breathtaking, and this particular view, which includes Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, is truly one of the most mesmerizing in the country.
To have an unforgettable picnic, you don’t have to live near a majestic mountain range, a picturesque river, or a world-renowned park. The best part about a picnic is that it can transform almost any location into a magical place. One of our personal favorite moves is to bring a picnic to enjoy after a few games of tennis. It is extremely effective.
Because of how peaceful and relaxing it is, an hour-long picnic here will feel like a week. This state park, located on Casco Bay, has over 200 acres of beautiful forest and rocky coastline. After you’ve had your fill of food, go for a hike or try your hand at birdwatching. The more of these protected lands you see, the happier you’ll be.
This is one of the best examples of the Pacific Northwest’s powerful beauty, and it’s also one of the most epic picnic spots imaginable. Hike, bike, or participate in watersports while sitting beneath the rich greens and blues of the Cascade Range.
On a sunny day—which isn’t always the case in The City By The Bay—you’ll find plenty of fellow picnickers draped throughout the park. While there are tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field, a children’s playground, and a mini dog park, the main draw is, of course, the view. The grass acts as an amphitheater with the park’s slopes, providing an unobstructed view of downtown and the bay.
Even when there isn’t a concert at this spectacular outdoor venue, the view is spectacular. This unique, massive, and naturally formed space between huge vertical rocks just southwest of Denver provides an unforgettable sight of Red Rocks Park. It’s almost as if you’re on a ride that doesn’t move. Simply sit on one of the benches and take in the breathtaking scenery.
The view of Santa Monica Bay and the pristine SoCal coastline is spectacular from here. The long bluff juts out into the Pacific, ensuring a pleasant coastal breeze for your picnic. Even the heaviest of picnics can be worked off later by rock climbing or strolling along the state beach (or Zuma Beach).
This wondrous protected natural habitat is only a short drive from Austin. The jade pool, which is surrounded by forest and accessible by a short hike, has a rocky overhang that transforms half of the popular watering hole into a grotto. With fern-swathed cliffs and a mini waterfall, it’s difficult to beat for a picnic.