Fresh air, sunshine, and pretty scenery make everything taste better, and nothing sets the mood for a laid-back day better than an outdoor feast. To conjure the enchantment, preparation helps. You don’t need to overcomplicate things, but realizing that you forgot something essential while you’re unpacking your basket under the hungry gaze of your loved ones and friends adds nothing to your joy. There are times for an utterly spontaneous picnic—you get hungry while on a mission, grab sandwiches, and hit the nearest scenic overlook—but there’s a whole other level of delight in gathering your people for a fabulous spread.
location considerations
Photo by Krisztina Papp.
Who will be there? The perfect spot for a hearty crew of experienced hikers won’t work if your company will include small children or folks with mobility issues; luckily, we have plenty of choices around here, from mountains to mansions, and everything in between, including lots of choices by the lakes, ponds, creeks, and Hudson River.
Do you want a table? Picnic tables have sprung up in a wide range of lovely public spots; town, county, and state parks often have not just tables—but grills—which open up a whole new range of menu choices.
How far do you want to carry everything? Outback picnics are glorious, but summiting a mountain for superb views presupposes a very different picnic experience than pulling over and hopping out of the car at a park, one perhaps more suited to backpacking the meal than toting a basket. You can certainly find room for an elegant meal and all the trimmings in a decent-sized backpack, but try hefting it to make sure that hiking in will be more fun than struggle.
Consider the availability of restrooms and trash cans, which are not always a must-have but can be helpful with small children and/or large parties. (If there’s no trash can, you will, of course, pack out every scrap of debris.)
Three great sources for multiple location choices: Mohonk Preserve, the Shawangunk Wine Trail member wineries, and Scenic Hudson’s “1 Valley — 45+ Parks” page: scenichudson.org/explore-the-valley/.
what to bring: the essentials
Photo by Richmond Osei.
Picnic baskets come in a wide range of types and sizes. There are classic wooden ones with cunning holders for your silverware built in, soft-sided lightweight coolers, and everything in between; reusable grocery bags are dandy in a pinch and available just about everywhere food is sold, meaning you can whip up a picnic on a whim. Whatever you’re using, consider food safety; reusable cold packs are much handier than ice for keeping it all fresh.
The condiments you’ll need depend on your menu, of course; many are available in picnic-friendly portions or can be transferred into smaller squeeze bottles.
You’ll want something on which to spread your spread. A waterproof tablecloth is about as perfect as it gets, keeping the eats clean and dry and making it easy to spot encroaching ants.
Waterproof placemats to sit on make a lovely compromise between chairs and bare ground; so do woven mats, or the towels you’ll be using after you take a dip. Of course, you can always get extra-fancy with lightweight camp chairs or stools.
A pack of wet wipes will come in very handy if you’re eating anything sticky or saucy. You’ll also want hand towels or napkins, either paper or cloth.
If your food plans require utensils, consider lightweight reusable bamboo or stainless steel. Don’t forget to bring a serving spoon and at least one knife.
Photo by Kayla Farmer.
Reusable plates, or at least the stiff cardboard kind, are miles better than the paper ones that can soak through or get all bendy—no picnic ever benefited from someone getting a lap-full of the salad. Likewise, if you’re going with cups over individual cans or bottles of beverage, choose ones that will hold up well in the wild.
If your location choice doesn’t feature trash cans, you’ll want a bag for trash and another to hold soiled reusable items.
fun stuff
Toys are obviously a must-have if there are kids along, but don’t neglect the joy they can generate for the grownups!
Consider packing along a magnifier and a set of binoculars for exploration.
If your destination is sandy, shovels and pails spark creativity. A Frisbee or a ball to toss gets people up, moving, and probably laughing, as does a kite to fly or a rope for a friendly tug-of-war. But if you bring no other toy, do slip some bubbles into your pack.
Photo by Samantha Fernandes.
the food
Now that you’ve got all of that together, you may be relieved to note that it is entirely possible to get delicious, healthy picnic fare at a wide variety of places; it’s more than likely that one of these will be right on the way to your destination.
PREPARED PICNICS
Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go on Route 28 in Kingston has a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and paninis made with house-roasted meats and hand-crafted condiments. bluemountainbistro.com, 845-340-9800
Main Course Marketplace in New Paltz makes delish constructed salads, street food, and paninis. maincoursecatering.com, 845-255-2600
Mill & Main Restaurant and Provisions in Kerhonkson will pack you up some Honey Jerk Shrimp, Colombian-style Arepa, or Chicken Suya Skewers. Find their online order form at mill-main.square.site, millandmainstreet.com, 845-626-1255
Olsen & Company in Saugerties offers fresh local cheese on sourdough, grilled Gruyère with fig jam on whole wheat, and organic Greek yogurt with nuts, honey, lemon, and optional house-made granola. olsenandcompany.com, 845-247-7189
Cheese Louise in Kingston specializes in gourmet sandwich creations, , alongside a selection of soups, salads, and other comforting fare. Discover your next favorite cheesy indulgence at cheeselouiseny.com or call 845-853-8207.
Photo by Mor Shani.
FARM MARKETS
Nothing goes better with eating outside than food fresh from the fields. Besides the fruits and veggies, our local farm markets go above and beyond.
Saunderskill Farm in Accord makes terrific sandwiches, prepared meals, and baked goods—and you can buy fresh fruit pie by the slice. saunderskill.com, 845-626-2676
Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson makes a famous burger featuring pulled pork and bakes fresh donuts daily. keldersfarm.com, 845-626-7137
Wallkill View Farm Market in New Paltz has fresh-baked muffins, breads, pies, scones, and pastries, as well as cheeses, jams, and jellies to put on them. wallkillviewfarmmarket.com, 845-255-8050
Pakatakan Farmers’ Market in Halcottsville, open Saturdays from 9 till 1, brings together Western Catskills farmers offering a wide variety of fruits, veggies, cheeses, pickles, salsas, and prepared foods in a lovely and historic setting; you may just decide to have your picnic right here. roundbarnmarket.org, 845-586-3326
LIBATIONS
For those looking to enhance their picnic with local libations or perhaps a curated cannabis selection, consider a visit to one of these fine establishments: Shawangunk Wine Trail, Ester Wine & Spirits, Miron Wine & Spirits, Stone Ridge Spirits & Wine, Back Home Dispensary, Stoutridge Distillery & Winery, Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, and Union Grove Distillery.
Photo by Josue Michel.
MARKETS
Sunflower Natural Market in Woodstock and Rhinebeck stocks just about every picnic treat you could dream of, and there’s a solid emphasis on working with local farmers to provide the finest, cleanest, organic and sustainable versions of everything. sunflowernatural.com, 845-679-5361 (Woodstock) 845-876-2555 (Rhinebeck)
Adams Fairacre Farms has locations in Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Newburgh, Wappingers Falls, and Middletown; all of them offer fine meats, produce, deli, prepared foods, and baked goods—and if you call ahead, they’ll cater you up a dream picnic. adamsfarms.com, Poughkeepsie 845-454-4330. Kingston 845-336-6300. Newburgh 845-569-0303. Wappingers Falls 845-632-9955. Middletown 845-415-8500
High Falls Food Co-op in High Falls, welcomes non-members to come get some of the finest organic local and fair trade goodness. Their scones are justifiably famous, and their deli has all kinds of picnic-perfect eats. highfallsfood.coop, 845-687-7262
La Deliziosa Italian Pastry Shoppe in Poughkeepsie tempts with an array of authentic Italian pastries, breads baked fresh daily, delectable cookies, and custom cakes for every occasion, all crafted with traditional recipes and quality ingredients. Experience a taste of Italy right here in the Hudson Valley. ladeliziosany.com, 845-471-3636
Meredith’s Bread in Kingston offers a vast selection of breads, rolls, cakes, cookies, pies, and preserves, all scratch-made; gluten-free delicacies are made in a dedicated, separate facility, and everything is baked with enormous love. meredithsbread.com, 845-331-4318
Tetta’s Market in Olivebridge is a convenience store like no other. Between the market, the pizzeria, and the deli, they’ve got all the makings of a succulent picnic. The locally themed sandwiches and Nutella pizza are the stuff of culinary legend. tettasmarket.com, 845-657-2338
