Picnics can be a tricky event to plan. On one particular day the food could be perfect, the location glorious and the activities fun. The next time you go the location could be more crowded, the food could take longer to cook and suddenly the activities become boring. In order to make your picnic a success time and time again, a few steps should be taken while preparing for this spring or summer event.

Location is of prime importance when it comes to planning a picnic. There are a wide variety of potential locales for outdoor eating, but they all come with certain limitations. One popular option is a city park or town park. This can be very effective as they often have amenities such as snack vendors that can replenish supplies, tables that will help you avoid ants and some will even have grills that will allow you to prepare fresh delicacies. There are also extra people around that could fill the ranks for activities such as soft ball or badminton that your party is not large enough to sustain on its own.

However, while extra people can be beneficial to activities, crowds can also get tiresome. If you are planning a romantic picnic you will probably want some seclusion. If that is the case then perhaps a state or national park, or some other "great outdoor" location might meet your needs. These parks are open to the public, but tend to be much larger then those found in towns. They therefore can offer more opportunity for seclusion. You may lose some of the amenities of a city park or town park by going out into the wilderness, but if you are looking for your own space one of those locations could work well.

Once the location for your picnic is decided the real challenges begin. The perfect picnic can be had just about anywhere, but deciding on a menu is not as easy. You can stick to the classic sandwich options, or go the grilling route if the facilities are available. When planning a menu, it is a good idea to begin with the entrée. After that course is decided there is a great deal of wiggle room. Fruit and vegetables are great to have around. Try a melon or two, or maybe some strawberries for your sweet-tooth. Most times, potato chips alone will not suffice. Instead of buying one large bag with only one flavor, try a few smaller bags to give variety. Include a few dips, perhaps a homemade recipe or two, and you are well on the way to a perfect meal.

Also, don’t forget the potato, macaroni and other salads as well. While choosing the entrée is simple, if you forget to complement it properly the meal could suffer. Having burgers or sandwiches can be good, but be certain to remember the condiments. Try using a specialty bread or bun to accentuate the meal’s flavor. These simple additions will enhance your entrée, and elevate your picnic towards perfection.

Now it’s time for dessert, which can be difficult to manage. Many popular summer-time delights require cold storage. Bring along a cooler or an Igloo with ice packs. If you do not have these items, cookies and other baked goods are an easy alternative to ice cream or popsicles. Try packing some whipped cream, while it needs to stay cold, it will not go bad as easily as ice cream. Put the whipped cream on fresh fruit, cookies, brownies or other sweet delicacies to make them stand apart from average picnic fare. All desserts are possible if storage is done well. Storage is important when planning the perfect picnic.

Many times, simply filling a cooler with ice and throwing in your food will not get the job done. Try packing either the ice or your food in sealed freezer bags. This will prevent the melted ice from making your meal soggy. Pack your items into the cooler in the opposite order of how they will be eaten. Pack the dessert first, entrée second and so on. This way the item you need will be right at the top when you go into the cooler, allowing you to leave it open for a smaller amount of time, keeping the inside colder.

Another way to keep things cold is to take a few water bottles, fill them almost to the top (leaving room for the water when it freezes), freeze them and put the bottles into the cooler. They will serve both to keep everything cold, and to provide extra water in case you run out of beverages. As always during the summer months, hydration will be extremely important.

Having the perfect picnic boils down to proper preparation. Make sure you know what you are getting into before you leave the house. If it has been raining recently bring a tarp to put under your blanket so that you can stay dry. If you know there is not enough shade where you are going, be ready with lots of water and ample sunscreen. Do not forget that activities are an important part of any picnic, especially one that includes children. Bring a soccer or volleyball; maybe a wiffle ball and bat. Frisbees are great too. Plan out your day, and have a backup plan for everything as well. All of this will ensure that you have a perfect picnic this summer.