How to Have a Picnic While Traveling
One of our favorite things about summer travel is being able to picnic outdoors while enjoying local scenery and great weather. We typically find a farmers market and buy fresh fruit, local cheese and charcuterie for a simple yet tasty meal. Of course, depending on our location, we will also indulge in local wine or other specialities. (E.g.; a fresh baguette or fruit tart in France, prosciutto and melon in Italy, tzatziki sauce or grape leaves in Greece.) Having a picnic while traveling is a great way to experience the most traditional tastes of the region we are visiting.
Being from coastal California we love a picnic near the ocean. However, this is not possible when traveling in cities like Paris or in the countryside like Umbria. Finding a sunny spot on a lakeshore or hilltop serves just as well. What’s important is a place that offers beautiful surroundings and some fresh air.
What to Pack to Have a Picnic While Traveling
We are on the road a lot. Because of this we have gotten our picnic while traveling kit down to a science. We make it compact, portable, and try to reduce paper and plastic waste. So far it has served us well. Our kit includes a corkscrew for wine, utensils (fork, knife, spoon), a small paring knife with a protected blade, collapsible cups, and several cloth napkins that we can also use for seating.
While shopping for our picnic fare, we ask vendors to wrap items in paper instead of plastic whenever possible. (The paper recycles and breaks down more easily than the plastic.) Then, when we unwrap our food, the paper can be spread out. This makes a place to put other items like fresh produce or sliced bread.
We are on the road a lot. Because of this we have gotten our picnic while traveling kit down to a science. We make it compact, portable, and try to reduce paper and plastic waste. So far it has served us well. Our kit includes a corkscrew for wine, utensils (fork, knife, spoon), a small paring knife with a protected blade, collapsible cups, and several cloth napkins that we can also use for seating.
Since reuse is one of the primary rules to reducing waste, none of these items were purchased as new. The wine opener was a gift from a wine tasting in Umbria, Italy. The utensils and napkins were purchased from a vintage market in Nice, France. The collapsible cups were purchased ages ago from a yard sale in Santa Barbara, California. Each item is from a different place and has a story. Wherever in the world we find ourselves, whenever we set up our picnic, it brings back fond memories of places we’ve been.
Pests at the Picnic
As much as we love having a picnic while traveling, we have found the pesky “meat bees” to be a nuisance just about everywhere. It’s a lovely day. We find a beautiful place. No insects or other pests to be seen. Then, just as soon as we set up our picnic spread… the meat bees arrive from nowhere. They dive bomb our salumi and hover over the cheese. Where do they come from? How do they find us? These mysteries are beyond us. But one thing can be said: they are super annoying.
What is a meat bee? Also called yellow jackets, they are a type of wasp. They are known as “meat bees” because their diet includes protein (and therefore meat) in addition to sugars. Meat bees prey on other insects and sometimes scavenge sugar- and protein-rich foods. Unfortunately that means they will scavenge from uncovered food when picnickers are dining al fresco. Too often they are just as excited about our picnic items as we are.
It ruins the relaxing vibe of having a picnic while traveling to constantly be shooing the bees away. Thankfully, we have found a good way to deter them from our food. We set out a bowl or cup (even a scavenged bottle cap) with a little wine, flat soda, fruit juice, or sugar water a few yards away from the picnic. The bees are attracted to the sugary scent. They go after that instead of our lunch. If possible, we set out the bee bait before we begin our picnic. It isn’t perfect but it does help.
Picnic Wherever You Are
Having a picnic with a view of the Mediterranean or on the shore of Lake Como is great. However, we know not everyone can get out and travel right now. Taking a picnic to a nearby park, beach, or even your backyard can feel a bit like travel. It changes up the usual routine. It can bring a newness and different way of experiencing things that travel also does. Most of all – it’s fun. The important thing is to enjoy and appreciate the options that are available. And there are many.