6 Things You Need for the Perfect Picnic

If you can spare the extra time, it's wise to head to the park a half hour early. That way, you can scope out a spot with the prettiest grass and the best view, situated an ideal distance from a bathroom ("close enough, but not too close"). Consult a park map online to narrow down your options, and steer clear of areas with bloom-heavy plants that attract bees. Once you've staked your claim, invite your fellow feasters: Use a map app to send a dropped pin via text message to guide them to your spot.

Grocery Gourmet
Make the meal feel special without cooking a thing: Just pick a theme when you hit the supermarket and stick to it. These three fun menus let you get a little fancy—not fussy.

French Épicerie
Baguette (buy one for every four people); Camembert (two ounces per person); sliced salami and prosciutto (at the deli get three slices—about an ounce—of each meat per person); olives and cornichons; fresh fruit like grapes, cherries, plums or strawberries (slices of Camembert and strawberry on a baguette make a decadent sandwich) and a chocolate bar or two.

A dozen dolmades—grape leaves stuffed with mint, herbs and rice (find them at the olive bar or look for the jarred kind packed in olive oil); spreads like hummus, pesto, baba ghanoush or olive tapenade (in the pickle aisle); tabbouleh (in the bulk deli salad case or near the hummus); pita bread and wedges of baklava (check the bakery).

Artisanal cheeses (choose one cow's milk, one sheep's and one goat's for variety; two ounces of each per person is plenty), crackers, honeycomb or honey (chunks of honeycomb are great for spreading on cheese and crackers, or you can drizzle honey over a cheese wedge), hazelnuts, easy-to-eat produce like sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes and fresh pastries.

Keep a roomy tote or basket stocked with picnic essentials—plates and cutlery, napkins, salt and pepper, and a bottle opener, plus sunscreen, bug spray, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and a trash bag for cleanup—and you'll always be ready to go. To take your outing to the next level, try these nifty accessories:

Water-Resistant Blanket
Hanel and friends swear by the Pendleton Glacier Roll-Up Blanket ($299; Pendleton-USA.com), a deluxe model with a snap-off, waxed-cotton bottom. To weatherproof any blanket in a pinch, bring a few yoga mats to place underneath. Spacewise, plan for nine square feet per picnicker.

A few small ones can do triple duty as cheese and charcuterie boards, slicing surfaces for bread and reliable resting spots for drinks.

The sheath protects the blade and makes it safe to carry in your bag. Use the knife—the authors' favorites are Kuhn Rikon (from $10; SurlaTable.com)—for slicing bread and cheese, sharing fruit and cutting pies or cakes.

A few of our favorite brand-new brews.

Fizzy: Lipton Sparkling Peach Iced Tea
A bubbly beverage that will charm even die-hard soda fans. ($1.50 for 12-ounce can; Kroger stores)

Fruity: Pure Leaf TeaHouse Collection Fuji Apple & Ginger Green Tea
Slightly sweet, with fresh apple and ginger notes. ($2.50 for 14-ounce bottle; PureLeaf.com for stores)

Tropical: The Republic of Tea Organic Mango Coconut Water Iced Tea Pouches
These large bags yield quart-size pitchers with a coconut water base. ($8 for eight-pouch tin; RepublicofTea.com)