L’O Summer Bucket List: How to Have the Perfect Picnic

Though considered touristy by some, Parc Du Champ De Mars is an iconic picnic spot for lovers, friends, or to be enjoyed alone. If you want the full tourist experience, grab a baguette, some brie, and champagne to wash it all down. Granelle Market and Rue Cler Market Street are perfect to pick up your Parisian lunch supplies. The heavenly views of the Eiffel Tower, and delightful pairing of cured meats leaves no mystery as to why the park is visited by some 23 million a year.

With a lake to cool off by and lawns to lay out on, Lumpini Park makes a great getaway from those sweaty city days. The street food of Bangkok is not only available on the streets per the name, but also in the parks. The Morning Stall Market has a variety of options made for eating there or to go. If relaxing on the green isn’t your style, take to the swan-shaped boats for a leisurely pedal around the water.

Vodelpark, which is within walking distance from the Van Gogh Museum, is the perfect oasis for anyone wanting to get out of the busy summer streets. No need to grab food before: Great Milk House and De Vondeltuin are among several eatery options within the park. After eating, enjoy a stroll through the park or find a quiet place to lay out with friends and Amsterdam's most sought after indulgence, a joint. Feel inspired by the beauty of nature? Walk over to some of the surrounding museums after.

This historical garden is unlike any you’ve seen before. Look at an aerial shot of the park, and you’ll discover its namesake (Laberint translating to "labrinth"). With surrounding greenery and benches throughout, this neoclassical and romantic garden is a marvel. Pack some tapas and sangria to share; eat as you stroll or take a seat in a secluded end of the maze. 

Hyde Park, known for its dramatic walkways and expansive green, is ideal for ones wanting to have a classic picnic. The upmarket shops of Knightsbridge and tea shop Fortnum & Mason are both great picks for picnic food supplies. Picnic tables can be found throughout the park, but if you want to kick off your shoes and lay back, pack a blanket or towel (and maybe an umbrella just in case). Bring your booze, if you wish, and your posh wicker basket to carry your provisions. Make sure to save some food to feed the swans on your way out.

This "nature park" is possibly the only one of its kind. Feel the breeze off of the marina, or get the views from eco-Supertrees 100 feet above. For those more easily bored, Gardens by the Bay will not disappoint. A slew of restaurants can be found throughout the park, catering to every appetite, leaving transportation as the only preparation for your day’s trip.

Perhaps the most iconic park, New York City’s Central Park is frequented by picnic lovers at the earliest hint of spring, until the days start to shorten in winter. New Yorkers may be biased, but even so, the stunning views and sprawling greens are undeniable. Head over to The Great Lawn or The Rambles with friends and a blanket. Grab food to go from Bluestone at the park’s 89th Street entrance, or ready-to-go treats from Butterfield or Noglu. Pack your canvas NYT bag (because we know you have one) with your favorite sunnies, a good read, and a camera.