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Let's Go On a PicnicEconomical and full of family fun, picnics are one way that more and more families are getting outdoors together. The numerous parks in Central New York with picnic facilities make it easy. By planning in advance, you can cross-reference which parks have picnic facilities and what other activities and amenities are present. Some of the parks have shelters available so that rain won’t spoil your outing. Among the top parks in Central New York, Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville offers several groomed walking trails through the woods and over the swamp and a welcome center with several kiosks and displays to entertain and educate. Both adults and kids enjoy the natural science information. Dogs are not permitted at Beaver Lake Nature Center. Another outstanding park, Onondaga Lake Park in Syracuse provides paved walking/skating paths and the sparkling waters of the lake. At the far end, you’ll find Wegmans Good Dog Park, so bring along your pooch for an off-leash romp with new canine pals. (Food isn’t allowed at the dog portion of the park, so finish up your meal before strolling down to the fenced-in dog park.) Once you know where you’re headed, pack up a picnic and go enjoy the sunshine. For food safety, keep cold items cold. Pack up a cooler with frozen ice packs around your food. Although baskets are nostalgic, they aren’t great for keeping food cold. If your cooler isn’t full, tuck in items such as hot dog buns to take up the extra space so that the cooler is better insulated. You can also freeze bottles of water ahead of time for ice packs. They’ll double as drinks later, but also include a few regular ice packs in case you have leftovers you wish to save. Don’t allow unused food to sit out more than one hour on a hot day. For a truly lazy day, pick up classic picnic fare—sandwiches, fruit salad, pickles, pasta salad, gelatin salad and deviled eggs—at your grocery store deli or sub shop. Or get the kids involved and make up your own sandwiches. Leftover cold fried chicken can be a fun alternative. Add a watermelon, baked beans, raw veggies and dip and potato chips for sides. Make it a potluck and invite another family to join in the fun. Grilling out makes any picnic special. Of course, the kids will go for burgers and hotdogs, but for grown-ups, try grilling tuna or salmon for lighter fare. Grilled pineapple rings with a scoop of ice cream are hard to beat for a great dessert from the grill. Brush up on your meat grilling safety knowledge at the USDA’s site, www.fsis.usda.gov/is_it_done_yet/brochure_text/index.asp. You’ll also need a place setting for each person (bring a few extra in case of a mishap), table cloth, serving utensils and, if you’re grilling, charcoal, matches, lighter fluid, oven mitts and grilling utensils. Don’t forget a clean receptacle for cooked meat (never return it to the container that held raw meat to avoid cross contamination), hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes for the tables, trash bags for disposable table items and wet wipes for your hands to make clean-up a snap. While a well-packed picnic basket is essential, don’t forget about picnic games to add to the fun. Many of the parks have opportunities for recreational activity nearby, but you can also have plenty of fun throwing around a Frisbee, playing badminton or horseshoes. Give the little ones a bottle of soap bubbles, a bug catching kit (release the critters before you go home), tee ball equipment, plastic bowling set or a big, bouncy ball to kick around. Although you shouldn’t remove any objects you find at a park, you can play scavenger hunt with digital cameras. Start out by giving everyone a list of object to photograph and whoever finds and photographs them first wins. As a bonus, you’ll have some fun photos of your day in the park. Great CNY Parks Local websites can help readers find the best park in the region: |
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