Pack a Picnic

My husband and I have always enjoyed going out to eat and trying new restaurants... we enjoy it so much, that taking kids feels like a non-option.

The kids are hardly foodies and couldn’t care less about what kind of cheese is on the menu, so we have opted for a more enjoyable experience more often: picnics.

Sippy cups, bamboo utensils, a blanket, cloth napkins and we’re good to go! Whether we pick up food at a grocery store or pack our own, picnics are a great option for everyone!

Here are some of our favorite picnic locations!

TUMWATER HISTORICAL PARK

If you’re in Olympia and needing a place to play and relax, the Tumwater Historical Park includes a kids playground and many walkable attractions as well as plenty of shade for setting up your picnic blanket and taking a break.

ALDERBROOK RESORT

It might be a fancy lodge, but the Alderbrook Resort is a friendly place to visit on Hood Canal with easy parking, lots of walkable shady spaces to hang out and a restuarant if you don’t feel like packing food along with you.

SEABROOK

Seabrook is probably the most action packed location on the Washington coast, with events, markets and shops all included in a fairly small footprint. But, that means there’s always plenty to do and enough green space to stop for a midday lunch. Grab sandwiches or groceries from Front Street Market and check their event schedule for an outdoor concert too!

SAM BENN PARK, ABERDEEN

Let’s talk about the many underappreciated Aberdeen parks! If this spot existed in Portland or Seattle, you’d be fighting for picnic space - but here it’s a blank canvas for your picnicking adventures!

YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Hello! How about dinner on the lawn? Our own backyard picnics are a fun change up for our kids and it’s so easy to shake the crumbs off after the meal and feed the local birds.