15 Romantic Picnic Ideas For The Perfect Date

Picnic dates have been a thing since people first packed food into a basket.

They allow two romantically interested people to commune with nature and each other.

You may envision the sun shining down on your sweetie or embracing in the glow of an unforgettable sunset.

To bring such a vision to life, you'll need to do more than throw some takeout food in a bag.

Your date deserves a special effort.

The steps for how to plan a romantic picnic are easy to follow and will hopefully heat up the romance between you.

15 Romantic Picnic Ideas

With some internet searches focused on your local area, you can find public outdoor spaces where picnickers can spread their blankets.

It's good to have a Plan B in mind in case the weather turns absolutely uncooperative.

An alternative indoor picnic location can serve as a great picnic date idea. Your romantic partner may marvel at your adaptability.

Regardless of the venue for your picnic, you may want to assemble a romantic playlist on your phone so that you can set the mood with the right background music.

Outdoor Romantic Picnic Ideas for Couples

1. Beach

The romantic beach picnic immediately comes to mind when planning an outdoor date. The image of the land meeting the sea creates the theme for two people coming together.

Capture the moment with pictures of both of you with the water in the background or writing sweet messages in the sand. Be sure to take some towels and extra blankets on a beach picnic to deal with the sand and water.

2. Scenic Lookout

Rural highways through scenic areas often have official and unofficial spots where people can park and take in the vista.

Such places are free to access and produce great opportunities for gorgeous picture-taking. Build your picnic theme around the concept of taking time to appreciate the world with your partner.

3. Neighborhood Park

Lawns and mature, shady trees welcome locals to green spaces. Scout out the location first to find a private spot on dry ground. Although the neighborhood park is the classic picnic location, it remains full of romantic meaning.

Stopping to share a meal under the sun right where you live shows that your love is bigger than some posh but overrated restaurant.


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4. State Park

You can find more natural splendor when you drive out of town and visit a larger state park or wildlife area. This is something you might do when you're considering romantic picnic ideas for him.

Romance can flourish when you explore new spaces with a date. State parks typically have groomed trails and secluded areas where you can relax with the birds and the bees.

5. Bird Sanctuary

Around the country, you can find open public spaces designated as bird sanctuaries. They often have rivers, ponds, or lakes along with open land and woods.

Just as the sanctuary sets aside space for the winged creatures of the Earth, you can frame the picnic as setting aside time to focus on a lover.

6. Backyard

If watching movies on the couch together is starting to feel stale, then invite your date out the back door. Serving a picnic on the backyard lawn will make your space feel new and different.

7. Botanical Garden

Some areas have lovely botanical gardens full of many flowers, shrubs, trees, and sculptures.

These places are often very beautiful throughout the seasons and have much more of a romantic character than the basic neighborhood park. The theme for the date could be stopping to smell the flowers.

8. U-pick Orchard

Around towns and cities, berry and fruit farms often welcome visitors during harvest season. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy your lunch before picking fruit together.

These farms offer a creative alternative to just going to a park, and you'll get to come home with fresh fruit.

9. Office Park

When you're pondering romantic picnic ideas for her, the answer might be where she works. Many offices and other workplaces have attractive green spaces around the buildings or parking lots.

You could surprise her at lunch hour with a picnic outside. This would be especially appropriate if she is working on your anniversary or her birthday.

10. Historical Site

Historical mansions that are open for tours often include lovely, manicured grounds where you could have a picnic. If you're already in a long-term relationship, you could say that the picnic theme is making history together.

Romantic Indoor Picnic Ideas

11. Living Room

Sometimes you have to work with what you've got, but you can make the living room special. Move furniture aside, surround an area with houseplants, and roll out some artificial turf.

12. Screened-In Porch

Some homes have screened-in back porches that keep out the bugs while letting the air flow through. Such a space will save your plans if the weather ruins your outdoor picnic.

You can enjoy the romantic patter of rain while pouring wine for your love under a roof.

13. Green House

Greenhouses are found in backyards, commercial growing operations, community gardens, and botanical gardens. These enclosed areas protect you while still surrounding you with plants.

14. Fancy Atrium of Public Building

Large buildings sometimes have large atriums filled with benches, plants, and fountains. People who work there might already regularly enjoy their lunches in these spaces.

These bright and airy lobbies offer an upscale atmosphere, but you might not be able to bring in alcoholic beverages.

15. SUV or Van

Larger vehicles with folding seats provide enough space for two people to set up a picnic. Such an indoor picnic venue might kindle romantic excitement because wooing in a vehicle feels very youthful and perhaps even naughty.

Things to Do on a Picnic

Even dedicated foodies will need something to do besides eat and drink. Be sure to choose some picnic date activities to promote playfulness and togetherness.

  • Flying a kite
  • Bird watching
  • Hiking
  • Bicycling
  • Swimming
  • Picture taking
  • Playing musical instruments
  • Paddle boating
  • Kayaking
  • Identifying wild plants
  • Reading poetry
  • Playing cards
  • Playing ring toss
  • Browsing photo albums from your past
  • Tasting food while blindfolded
  • Giving each other massages
  • Throwing a frisbee
  • Fishing

What to Take on a Romantic Picnic

Before we talk about the romantic picnic menu, you need to think about the gear and supplies that you'll need to achieve a splendid outing.

After all, you want to impress your date with your preparedness instead of embarrassing yourself by not having a corkscrew when you pull out a bottle of wine.

Being outdoors could expose you to mosquitoes, flies, shifts in weather, wet ground, wind, or hot sun. You might have to contend with all of these things depending on your location and luck.

A properly outfitted mission will need some or all of the following items:

  • Picnic basket
  • Cooler
  • Ice packs
  • Blankets
  • Pillows or cushions
  • Towels
  • Umbrella
  • Insect repellent
  • Sunscreen
  • Sun hats
  • Sun glasses
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Hoodie or sweater
  • Binoculars
  • Napkins
  • Wet wipes
  • Small trash bag
  • Forks, knives, spoons
  • Plates, bowls, cups
  • Sharp knife
  • Band-aids
  • Corkscrew and/or bottle opener
  • Phone/camera
  • Selfie stick

Romantic Picnic Food

The foods that you and your date prefer will guide your food choices, but you should avoid overly messy foods or those inclined to inflict bad breath. You don't want to erase each other's sex appeal with greasy fingers and garlicky exhalations.

Cut pieces of fresh fruit are very safe to include on a romantic picnic menu. They are easy to prepare and travel well. Fruit pieces are also fun to feed to each other in a sensuous way.

Breaking up pieces of a chocolate bar for this purpose could be dreamy as well, but you should forgo chocolate bars in hot weather. The chocolate will melt and leave a gooey mess on your fingers.

As you plan your big outing, consider these options for the picnic menu:

  • Sandwiches or wraps
  • Egg rolls
  • Taquitos
  • Kebabs
  • Pastries
  • Chicken fingers
  • Falafels
  • Chips and dip
  • Vegetables and dip
  • Cheese and crackers
  • Fruit
  • Salads
  • Cookies
  • Muffins
  • Rice crispy treats
  • Pie tarts
  • Soft pretzels
  • Fresh bread or rolls
  • Butter
  • Honey butter
  • Fancy jams
  • Ice tea or coffee
  • Wine or sparkling wine
  • Wine coolers
  • Beer
  • Mimosas
  • Lemonade or hard lemonade
  • Chocolate milk
  • Water

Whether you choose to cook the food for the picnic depends on your confidence in your cooking skills. Picking up food from your favorite little restaurant is perfectly acceptable, but going through the effort to prepare homemade treats could make your date feel special.

If you prepare a hot main dish, wrap it in foil. Foods with mayonnaise or sour cream that need to stay cold should be transported in a cooler with a freezer pack.

Final Thoughts

Whether it's a first date or you've been married for years, a romantic picnic gives both of you an opportunity to relax. Something about gathering cozily around a basket of food feels safe and perfect.

Planning your dates around cute picnic ideas shows that you're striving to delight the other person. Romance emerges from thoughtful details, so don't feel like you have to hold back.

Cooking food, planning a music playlist, and packing fluffy pillows may seem like small things, but they can have a tremendous impact when it comes to winning someone's heart.