First number on the list
The very first thing you should take care of when going on a picnic is, of course, food. After all, if you forget, for example, salt and spices, and not a single salad will turn out so tasty. And what would a picnic be without meat, which you can cook at home, or take with you and organize a barbecue outdoors (don’t forget about fire safety precautions, it’s summer after all). Think carefully about which foods to take with you fresh and prepare directly at your vacation spot, and which ones, such as sauces or desserts, to prepare at home. And, of course, diversify your picnic with light and interesting refreshing cocktails.
Important components
As soon as you decide on the list of necessary products for a picnic, immediately think about how you will transport all your preparations. The ideal option is a cooler bag - you can put food in it that doesn’t really like hot weather. But if you don’t have one, give preference to comfortable picnic baskets. Now there is a huge selection of them, they are made of environmentally friendly materials, are very spacious, and also have special compartments for dishes, cutlery and even glasses.
Also don't forget about the dishes. Here you have two options: take the necessary plates, forks, spoons, etc. take it with you, but at the end of the picnic there will be nowhere to wash the dishes, and you will have to take them home and put them in order there. Recently, many lovers of outdoor recreation prefer the second option - disposable tableware. Such sets are sold in any hypermarket or small store; they are very convenient and compact, and you do not need to be afraid that the dishes may break while you get to the place.
If you are having a picnic with barbecue or barbecue, do not forget to take with you a barbecue or grill, as well as a ignition and special coal. Just remember that not all places allow making fires, so when going to a place, be sure to check this point so that there are no troubles later.
How to have a fun picnic in nature
- Make a list of dishes . A few days before your planned picnic, you need to decide what you will cook. You will need this to create a set of products (see point 2). In addition, some of the dishes can be prepared at home in advance (for example, simple salads for a picnic) and then just relax on the spot.
- Think over a set of products for a picnic. Yes, yes, it is very important to think in advance about what to eat on a picnic and calculate the products! Firstly, you will need to eat something all day. Secondly, you can come up with a lot of interesting games with food (for example, for the funniest and coolest sandwich, or who can cook something better/faster from the same set of products). And thirdly, even just cooking with friends can be a lot of fun if you all do it together. Therefore, be very careful about what food to take on a picnic (pay special attention to perishable foods!).
- Make a list of things for a picnic. In addition to food, you also need to take a lot of things with you. Firstly, you need to take the blankets on which you will sit and a tablecloth. Secondly, you will definitely need dishes (plates, forks, cups). And thirdly, things for entertainment: a ball, a twister, etc. (depending on what games you like). By making a list in advance of what you need to take on a picnic, you won’t forget anything, and everything will go great.
These tips were more about preparing a picnic, but now it’s time to talk about how to have fun at a picnic?
Convenience and comfort
The next point is what you should sit on. The easiest and fastest way is a special large blanket or blanket: comfortable, roomy and takes up minimal space in the car. And if you add a few small pillows to it, then you are guaranteed to relax in nature in an oriental style.
But lately, many picnic lovers do not want to leave the comfort even in nature. If you are one of them, we recommend taking a special folding table and chairs with you to feel comfortable among all the beauty of the place around you.
How to organize outdoor recreation: useful tips and life hacks
Summer is over, but there are no less attractive months ahead for a wonderful outdoor recreation with your family and friends. Nowadays, traveling outside the city to take a break from honking cars, chanting crowds and alarming news is perhaps even more relevant and necessary, because a long stay in such an environment does not lead to anything constructive either in terms of work activity or in terms of relationships with your environment.
To give yourself a quality reboot, you just need to get together in a small group and go to the Belarusian outback for a camping holiday.
But as often happens, upon arrival at the place a number of inconveniences arise: you didn’t take something important, mosquitoes or midges bother you, there are some inconveniences at every step. So that nothing overshadows your vacation, we offer useful lifehacks for outdoor recreation in Belarus, which will come in handy more than once for any outdoor pastime - for example, at a barbecue picnic.
Choose a place
Belarus is widely known for the beauty of its nature, so choosing a picturesque place for “savages” to relax will not be difficult. It can also be an equipped campsite; We presented the best of them in the article about a weekend in nature.
Find out the weather in advance
In order not to spend the whole weekend in a tent waiting for the end of the rain, or even a thunderstorm, you should first find out the weather forecast in the selected area. And it’s better if in several sources.
Take a tent and sleeping bag
The key to a good rest in nature is a sound sleep. But fresh air alone is not enough for this. Sleeping in a car neutralizes the entire effect of the romance of this type of leisure, in addition, it is most often uncomfortable.
Therefore, you should make sure you have a tent. It should be made of high-quality materials, with a sufficiently durable and waterproof bottom. You will also need a sleeping bag that matches the temperature. If you have an air mattress, then this is the best option for arranging an overnight stay in nature.
By the way, one of the most popular car rental services in Minsk - FordRent.by - provides an excellent two-person tent for free when renting for three days or more under the All Inclusive promotion!
In addition to the tent, it would be very prudent to take with you an awning, which will serve as a canopy in case of rain, as well as an oilcloth (or a curtain for the bathroom) so that the cover does not become damp from the wet grass.
Save water
Even when going for a short weekend in the wild to a place where there is a spring nearby, it is worth stocking up on enough drinking water at the rate of one and a half liters per person. In addition, industrial water will be useful for washing hands, dishes and other things.
If there is not enough drinking water, you can build a camping filter to purify water from a reservoir, since boiling does not remove the specific smell. Making a filter is simple: layer charcoal is poured into an inverted plastic bottle, gauze or cotton pads are placed in the spout and filled with water.
Collect a first aid kit
Many tourists, when going to the wild, either forget about the first aid kit, or rely on the one in the car. However, if you rent a car, it may turn out that you may not have what you need in it, and it will never be a bad idea to check the first aid kit from your personal vehicle again.
So, the set should have:
- bandages;
- patch;
- cotton wool;
- tourniquet;
- antibacterial agent (chlorhexidine, brilliant green or salicylic alcohol);
- antipyretic and analgesic (paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen);
- antihistamine (citrine or erius);
- sorbent (activated carbon, enterosgel or polysorb);
- anti-burn agent.
We also recommend taking insect repellent and anti-itch cream for insect bites. By the way, vinegar, which is often taken on such trips for marinade, relieves itching well.
Make a bonfire
To start a fire, in addition to the usual matches, gasoline/kerosene or lighter fluid, you can also use dry fuel, for example, cotton pads soaked in wax or petroleum jelly, which are easy to make yourself. They don’t take up much space and are very environmentally friendly. It is also good to have dry newspaper with you to start the fire faster.
Speaking of which, charcoal will significantly reduce the time it takes to prepare a barbecue grill. If you are not in a hurry, you can use firewood. Don't forget to take a hatchet for this.
Provide light
On a trip to nature with an overnight stay, you should always take a flashlight. However, a directed beam of light is not always convenient. There is a simple life hack on how to easily create a source of soft diffused light. To do this you will need a flashlight and a canister of water. A canister of water can be placed on a headlamp so that it shines upward. Or you can use any other one, directing it inside the canister. It's simple! Soft and diffused light is ready. An excellent option for lighting inside a tent.
Don't take too much
What things are best to abstain from during this type of vacation: gadget lovers go out into nature to enjoy the silence, find harmony, and listen to the sounds of the forest, but smartphones, tablets and laptops can interfere with this. But with books it’s the other way around - it’s better to prefer the electronic version to the bulky printed version, especially since the pages can become damp.
You don’t need to take a lot of clothes, the main thing is quality. It should be waterproof, made of natural materials and designed for different weather conditions.
Checklist of necessary things
Important:
- food;
- tent (as well as awning, oilcloth);
- grill, skewers, grill grates, iron tongs, fork, spatula;
- coal or firewood (and a hatchet);
- matches, lighters, lighter fluid, paper;
- water (drinking and technical);
- hygiene products (wet wipes, toilet paper, soap);
- first aid kit;
- insect repellent;
- dishes (preferably biodegradable);
- knives;
- cutting board;
- towels, cloth napkins;
- garbage bags.
Might be useful:
- folding furniture;
- bedspreads, rugs;
- swimsuits, swimming trunks;
- ball, cards, badminton, guitar;
- warm, waterproof clothes.
Use this checklist and tips to properly organize a wonderful vacation in the midst of the picturesque nature of Belarus and preserve vivid memories for as long as possible!
Indispensable means
No matter how much we would like to be completely unified with nature during a picnic, we should not forget about protective equipment. First of all, don’t forget sunscreen, because it’s not only on the sea coast that we are exposed to scorching rays.
An important tube or spray in our purse will also be repellent against mosquitoes and insects, in particular against ticks. It’s better to play it safe and protect yourself than to constantly drive away annoying midges. We recommend purchasing such products in the form of a spray: it is much easier to apply, and you can also spray it on your clothes so that no insects get close to you while you are resting.
Unseen circumstances
When choosing a picnic time, always check the weather forecast. But even if the Internet page is full of only bright sun, just in case, take a large umbrella in the car. The weather is very changeable, so light rain or heavy downpour can happen at any minute, even if you didn’t expect it. And by placing such an umbrella over your makeshift or real table, you can enjoy your vacation even in rainy weather, because in a few minutes the sun will come out again and warm you with its warm rays.
So as not to get bored
What picnic is complete without entertainment? Therefore, think of several activities at once that will not let you get bored. The most common item you need to take on a picnic is a ball. With a ball you definitely won’t be bored, because you can come up with a lot of games with which you can actively spend time in nature. If among your friends there is a person who plays the guitar, that’s just wonderful: the guitar and nature are something so united that we won’t even go into too much detail here, but definitely take it. Another worthy option is a twister. Believe me, you will not regret taking a card with you to play this game: a lot of laughter, positive emotions, a charge of vivacity and fun are guaranteed!
Having chosen a place for a picnic and collected everything you need, you will spend an unforgettable few hours in nature in the best company. We recommend that you don’t forget to take your camera with you, because such moments are worth keeping in your memory. And what could be more fun and better than memorable shots, funny faces and original photographs that will stay with you forever. Have a great summer vacation!
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Useful little things
So, we decided on food. Now you think what you can take for a picnic with friends in the summer, besides food? And there is something to think about. Answer yourself a few simple questions.
Where will the picnic take place?
If this is a specially equipped place with a gazebo and barbecue, then take a tablecloth - that’s enough. If there is nothing around, think about what you will sit on and what you will cook on - you may need a folding grill or barbecue stand, firewood, coal and matches.
How will the cooking process go?
All products can be prepared in advance at home. But if cooking outdoors is not a burden for you, stock up on utensils, cutting boards, plates and utensils, including iron ones, for cooking over a fire.
Where to collect garbage?
This issue cannot be ignored, because no matter how carefully you rest, garbage will still remain, and it will need to be collected and removed. Prepare several strong, large garbage bags, preferably with drawstrings or handles.
Fun and Games
In nature you can not only eat delicious food, but also have great fun. Let's say, before eating, it can be active recreation - take a frisbee, a ball, badminton rackets. And after eating, you can play a quieter board game (such as lotto or Monopoly) or cards with a large group.
How to protect yourself from insects?
If you are planning a vacation in a forest area, do not forget that you will need to take mosquito repellent spray or cream for an outdoor picnic with friends. And if you plan to relax in the meadow, think about the risk of getting sunburned - sunscreen will save you.
How long will the picnic last?
If you plan to stay out late, take warm clothes or blankets to wrap yourself in if it gets cold. Well, if there is a body of water nearby, don’t forget about swimsuits and towels.
What to do if?.. If there is a burn, bite, cut, scratch?
Then a first aid kit will help. It is better to equip a special “travelling” first aid kit separately and take it with you on trips.
What should be in it? Bandages and cotton wool, plaster and tourniquet, antiseptics (hydrogen peroxide, iodine or brilliant green, chlorhexidine), panthenol for burns, pain relievers, cardiac medications (nitroglycerin).
Well, that seems to be all. It seems that they haven’t forgotten anything that can and should be taken on a picnic with friends. Now it’s just a matter of small things: plan your own vacation in the lap of picturesque nature and catch the last warm days of summer!
— Author — Tatyana Maltseva, website www.sympaty.net – Beautiful and Successful Copying of this article is prohibited!