As Spring is now upon us and the weather starts to warm up (hooray!!), what better way to spend time with the ones you love than a picnic 🙌🏼 For me, the beauty of picnics isn't just getting some fresh air and being out in nature, it's that they can be as simple or elaborate as you wish, depending on the occasion (and energy level).
I want to share with you some of my favourite picnic games/activities, styling ideas and even some of my favourite picnic playlists on Spotify so you can set the mood.
Games/Activities
🍀 Ring Toss / Quoits - Many options can be found from places like Kmart right through to beautiful sustainable pieces like this Planet Finska Hoopla
🪣 Scavenger Hunt - Make sure you pack your Coast Kids bucket for this one to help collect items and mark off the ones that won't fit in a bucket. Download my list here or simply write up your own.
🌾 Croquet - This game has transcended many generations and continues to be a favourite of all ages. A croquet is easy to find and purchase online but once again my favourite is this premium Planet Finska Croquet Set
🤹🏼♂️ Simple Board Games - Jenga, Connect Four, Guess Who and even the little travel magnetic tin games such as Snakes & Ladders are a great option to keep adults and kids alike entertained.
⚽ Ball sports - Here you can choose whatever you love the most; football/soccer, rugby, afl, cricket, lawn bowls or bocce. Heck, even a good old Frisbee is always a winner!
🎨 DIY Paint & Sip - There are a few online businesses where you can buy preassembled packs with a canvas, stand, paints, brushes and access to an instructional video or you could purchase these items separately yourself and watch a video on Youtube, or get a paint by numbers to simplify the painting process.
🃏 Card Games - Options here are endless! Think: Uno, Gin Rummy, Go Fish, Monopoly Deal, Spot It, Cluedo Cards etc
🎶 Music - Make sure your portable speaker is charged and you have the perfect playlist cued up to create atmosphere. Always remember to be considerate of other park-goers when setting the volume - no body wants to be 'that guy'. If you're lucky enough to be gifted with the talent of playing an instrument, perhaps you could bring that along to show of your skills or serenade a special someone.
DIY Styling Tips
🔅Choose a beautiful picnic rug to be the centrepiece of your picnic (obviously) while will help create the colour-theme or mood you want to create.
🌳 Cushions, cushions and more cushions - you can actually pack as few or as many as you like, depending on the picnic occasion. They help to add an element of texture and depth to your picnic set-up. If there's a chance you'll want to get really comfy and lay back on the picnic, perhaps to stick around and watch the stars come out, then I love packing a couple of European pillows that are super fluffy and lux!
🌼 A 'table' is a must have in my opinion. This will help to add some height to your set-up while being SUPER handy to sit drinks, food or even games on. Like every element of a picnic, this can be as small and simple or large as you like. Get creative with using breakfast tables, large serving boards, timber rounds, crates turned upside down, pallets, kids tables - let your imagination and resources guide you!
🍴 Include some pretty cutlery for serving, cutting cheese and even eating. Try to avoid waste by using what you have at home or buying reusable utensils. I also love packing cloth napkins to add a touch of lux while also being considerate of the environment.
🌷 Add something beautiful to really make your picnic special. From fresh flowers (or faux), candles (which can include pretty tealight votives or stands), lanterns, tablecloth/runner/placemats, lollies, fresh fruit, even photos of memories scattered or in pretty frames (especially nice for a special occasion like proposal or milestone bday) - the world is your oyster when decorating your picnic table and space.
🍾 I also love a wine bucket or drinks tub that is aesthetically pleasing, while being functional - need to keep those drinks icy cold! Pack some nice glasses rolled in a tea towel to protect while travelling to enjoy your drinks from. Don't forget to include at least one activity too 😉
