Take a Picnic Basket to Truly Enjoy your Trip

I am not being simply nostalgic. I am being practical. We can learn from our older generation and how they traveled before the days of fast food restaurants and towns along the interstates that cater to travelers. Think back to a time when families took a picnic basket with them on trips. Think back to a time when families picnicked at parks and rest stops along the road. Think of how much money they saved and how much more fun traveling was.

What did we do before there was Ronald, Wendy the Queen or the King? What did we do before there was a Subway, a Colonel or Popeye? Before the time we planned our trips around the fast food places of the world we planned our trips around the parks and rest stops along our paths. With a family picnic basket not only can we get back to a time when trips were fun to take we can enjoy our time together and the wonderful scenery that our county has to offer.

The next time you look at a map take a look at the picnic tables shown on these maps. You will be shocked at how many places there are to stop and enjoy your trip rather than trying to set a new land speed record between stops.

Rarely, you will go on a major interstate highway without rest stops with picnic tables every 60 miles. Next, notice how many brown road signs you see announcing another state or national park along your trip. Each of these has numerous fabulous places to throw down your blanket or set up your meal on a picnic table.

Get out and Stretch your Legs

Walking from the car to the fast food restaurant is not stretching your legs. Carrying your tray from the counter to your booth is not exercise. Sending the kids to the indoor playground is not going to relieve your stress.

Get out of the car and walk down to the stream or to that spot that gives you the best view of the valley below. Take a walk up the trail to view the waterfall or down the trail to where the deer are playing in the field below. Get out of the car and enjoy life.

Plan your Meals

On a trip longer than 4 hours you can plan on a least 1 meal out. Will you give me that much? If so, then you should plan your meal out beyond what city you plan to stop in. Plan you meal and pack your picnic basket so you can enjoy your meal instead of rushing to find the fast food restaurant that everyone likes.

Years ago I learned not to ask what everyone wanted to eat. At no time could I get everyone to agree on what they wanted to eat. Out of 5 of us, I could never get a majority let alone a unanimous decision.

We don’t have that problem with a picnic basket. The food we pack is always agreeable to the family as everyone can find something they are happy with. Of course, that could be because we always make sure we have the peanut butter and jelly!

Pocket the Change

What does a meal out cost you these days? For us, a visit to a fast food restaurant is going to set up back $20 – $25 easy. Do you have any idea how much bread, peanut butter and jelly you can get for $20?

Even if you packed the best lunch meat from the deli, the most expensive soft drinks and had desserts for everyone you wouldn’t spend $20 per meal for 4 people.

Plan you meals out while traveling, pick your picnic spots along the way and pocket the change you save from eating out. Fast food restaurants have changed the way people travel. Picnic baskets will help us get back to a time when travel was not so stressful, eating out was a luxury and picnic baskets were as essential to a trip as a suitcase full of clothes.