Surely you've enjoyed your share of summer picnics, but have you ever had one in the winter time? No? Oh, you're in for such a treat! It's very possible to spend a lovely, luxurious time outdoors in The Woodlands with blankets, warm foods, hot drinks, and games during the cold weather months. Here's how to pull it off.
1. Picnics are generally all about the menu, and there are plenty great options for comfort food during the winter months. Don't think you're limited to hot soup either (although your favorite Ramen might go well for this occasion)! Popular dishes such as rotisserie chicken wraps, roast beef sliders, red pepper soup served with crusty bread, or a deluxe charcuterie board all make for a delicious portable feast. Most larger parks in The Woodlands area (and some smaller ones too) have BBQ grills, so bring along a grill pan and charcoal if you want to roast weiners for hot dogs.
For dessert, try chocolate mousse, puff pastry with strawberries and cream, or bread pudding brought in cute little ramekins. The coolest dessert to bring along, however, is... you guessed it... ice cream! If the weather is cold enough, winter time is just about the only time you can bring ice cream along on a picnic, so relish in the moment!
If you prefer to take the easy route, here are a few Woodlands-area stops for grabbing your picnic grub:
- Flower Child: I recommend the Flying Avocado wraps and the gluten-free chocolate chip cashew cookies
- Chick-fil-A: Go through the drive thru for chicken sandwiches and fruit cups
- H-E-B: Check out the Grab-and-Go sandwiches
- Torchy's: Tacos are great for a picnic any day of the week, but especially on Tuesdays
- South Flo Pizza: They're inside H-E-B Woodlands Market and they have delicious NY-style pizza and great deals!
2. Prepare to hydrate. Pack thermoses with hot chocolate, or bring a carafe of hot water and individual foam cups with hot cocoa powder packs or tea bags. Hot drinks will help keep everyone warm from the inside out, and you'll want to make the beverages extra special with cinnamon sticks and peppermints. For a romantic twist, bring along the proper glasses and top off the meal with red wine. As a rule of thumb, always pack bottled water when you're headed for the outdoors.
3. Find a cozy picnic spot. There are no rules for the perfect location to have a picnic. It's all about where YOU want to be. For a winter picnic with your whole family, you might prefer an open, sunny spot on a local park lawn where you or the kids can pop up and run around at random times to stay warm. A park with a playground guarantees built-in fun for little ones. A nestled-in-the-trees spot might be more in order if you're looking for privacy. Choose whether to set up on grass (ants won't be much of a nuisance this time of year) or a picnic table. Also, don't forget about your own backyard. If you have a lovely outdoor setting right outside your home, with backyard heaters or even a firepit, this option might be too good to resist.
My favorite large Woodlands-area lawns:
- Town Green Park
- Northshore Park
- Tupelo Park
- Market Street's Central Park
4. Bring extra blankets. You'll need your usual blanket or two to spread out the food, but bring additional cozy blankets to shield you from the wind and the cold. It goes without saying, but you should be dressed in your winter wear - think a cute sweat suit with undershirt, medium jacket, and wear a beanie, mittens, and an extra pair of socks if you need to.
5. For a romantic picnic, don't forget to pack candles in the picnic basket. They can be electric candles, or you can bring real candles as long as you have a safe platform to place them. Bring a lighter!
6. Plan fun activities to enhance your picnic. What are you going to do at your picnic? Eat and drink, of course. For a basic picnic, nothing else is required. But for the ultimate winter picnic experience, you can bring simple activities such as a deck of playing cards, a Frisbee, a board game, a ball to play catch or to kick around, a pad of MadLibs, or a book of poems.
**Why have a picnic when you can just stay cozied up indoors? Oh, so you aren't convinced that this is a good idea? Here are some great reasons!
- It's fun to pass quality time outdoors when it's cool! The crisp air brings energy, and the entire feel of being outdoors in the winter season is different from hanging outdoors in the warmer months. The outdoors is very much an all-weather adventure, so live it up!
- Having your first winter picnic can be a way to have a fun new experience as a family and get out of your comfort zone while making great memories. After your first time having a winter picnic, you might be hooked!
