What to bring for your next outdoor picnic, including a blanket, portable grill, and reusable utensils

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West Elm

• Picnics are a quintessential summer activity that many people have been choosing to do more often, given to the novel coronavirus.
• While some sandwiches are really all you need, if you're looking to have an all-day picnic, you may want to add on a handful of accessories.

With the novel coronavirus still affecting life across the country, there are plenty of activities that remain unsafe to do. And while things like crafting and baking bread are great ways to pass the time indoors, the warmer weather means you can move your activities outside too. The CDC has deemed outdoor activities safe, so long as you can keep socially distant. In other words? It's a good time for a picnic.

And while all you truly need for a picnic is a patch of grass and some sandwiches, there are a handful of accessories that can level up your picnic, like portable grills, reusable plates, and chic blankets. They'll turn your lunchtime picnic into an all-day affair, and what better way is there to spend a warm summer day than hanging out at your favorite park or beach?

If you're trying to add items to your cart and check out as fast as possible, here are the five best picnic essentials we'd recommend.

1. A picnic blanket
2. Portable speakers
3. Reusable utensils
4. Shatterproof glasses
5. Portable grills

Otherwise, here's the full list of our favorite picnic essentials like reusable utensils, speakers, and more, with multiple options for each to fit your budget and needs.