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There’s nothing quite like spending leisure time in the sunshine and warmth that a summer day provides. Especially when there’s food involved! Picnics are a fantastic way to combine a love of both eating and the outdoors, and luckily for us Metro Detroiter’s, there are plenty of places to do just that.
Independence Oaks, located in Clarkston, has a plethora of activities for you to incorporate into your picnicking plans. After chowing down you can hike, bike or skip along 12 miles worth of marked nature trails. If that’s not enough, load up the canoe or kayak and spend the afternoon paddling around peaceful Crooked Lake. For those of us (me) who spent the Fourth of July soaking wet from an unfortunate kayak flip on an angry river, this is a great way to get in some practice.
Heritage Park, located in Farmington Hills, has a large picnic area with in-ground grills for those looking to cook up their lunch. The park has 4.5 miles worth of trails for your enjoyment, as well as sand volleyball courts to get your competitive edge going. If you prefer to do something that requires slightly less physical activity, the park also has six horseshoe pits.
Rolling Hills County Park, located in Ypsilanti, is a one-stop shop for all things recreation. After enjoying your quiet picnic under the trees, test out your fishing skills at the nearby pond. Fans of disc golf can also get in a round of 18 holes at the park’s course. If you find yourself enjoying the outdoors on a particularly hot day, head over to the water park for a float in the lazy river.
While I assume that many of you have eaten outdoors a time or two, take a look at these helpful tips on how to make your picnicking extravaganza top notch. If you’re not a fan of cooking, stores like Holiday Market, Hollywood Market, Papa Joe’s and Whole Foods offer conveniently prepared meals and side items that can be wrapped up and taken to go.
If I may interject my own personal piece of advice, do not, under any circumstances, feed the nearby ducks. There are signs warning you not to do so for a reason. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way, when I single handedly created duck mayhem and was forced to flee the scene.
