Nota bene: All products in this article are independently selected and vetted by InsideHook editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Two celebrity couples — Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles and Joe Alwyn and Sarah Pidgeon — were separately pap’d this week, getting quite cozy in what appeared to be the same open field in London. Surrounded by noticeably tall, ungroomed grass, the couples looked utterly complacent on their respective open-air park dates: their tangled limbs spread out on a picnic blanket while they shared vapes and bottles of wine and snapped photos of each other. While commenters speculated if the two back-to-back, coincidental park dates in Hampstead Heath were staged — and expressed concern over possible tick exposure in the overgrown field — perhaps naively, I took the PDA park photos at face value. This is because I am pure of heart, and that heart loves an outing in the park.
For my 28th birthday last month, I hosted a gathering in Astoria Park (one of New York City’s most underrated parks IMO). Perched on slight hill, I laid out blankets, filled a massive Yeti cooler with a sufficient amount of drinks for 15 people and ordered a few sandwiches from the famed Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli (because you have to feed the people). But even when there are no celebratory occasions, you can find me sunbathing with a book in hand or drinking copious bottles of wine with my roommate in the same park.
Just this past weekend, my boyfriend and I headed out with just a blanket, pocket-sized speaker and a few beers to lay out for a couple of hours. And each time I lay my back against the ground and stare up at the clear-blue sky or peer over at the Hellgate Bridge or eavesdrop on a couple getting married (yes, I was a bikini-clad witness to a full-blown wedding ceremony), I genuinely feel in my bones that I am at the most beautiful, romantic and deeply unappreciated place in the world.
This summer, forget overpriced rooftop bars or fighting for an OpenTable reservation at a popular waterfront restaurant. Instead, pack a romantic picnic to take to your local park. It’s a relatively low-cost date idea that doesn’t feel cheap (if anything, it makes you seem an impressive planner). It’s also a low-stakes date if it’s early on in your relationship: the openness will give you room to breathe, but there is still intimacy in sharing a singular blanket. The same is true for long-term partners. The relaxed nature of a simple park outing will allow you time to sit in comfortable silence, read in tandem, listen to music or chat. The park is the perfect landscape for growing a relationship at any stage.
Of course, there is an art to the park date. You can’t just bring a lady to an open field unprepared. Luckily, I am a seasoned park-lounging vet and have mastered the ideal packing list. Below, everything you need for the perfect summer outing.
A Clean, Soft Blanket for (at Least) Two
No scratchy bath towels or old bed sheets. Provide as much of a comfortable experience as you possibly can when your guest has to sit on the ground.
Wine
When it comes to how much alcohol you should supply, I live by the age-old adage, “You’d rather be looking at it than for it.” One bottle isn’t enough. Two will suffice, but three will give you both an opportunity to prolong a date that’s going well (even if that’s just the wine talking).
Cheese
If you’re going to supply drinks, you have to supply food. A pre-assembled cheese board is the easiest way to do this.
A Cooler for Your Perishables
Unless you’re hosting a party, you don’t need a magnum cooler to keep your perishables cool. A tote bag cooler or backpack will get the job done without weighing you down.
A Small Speaker
I can’t go to the park without tunes. Even solo, I prefer to bring a speaker rather than rely on my headphones. This also shouldn’t be a boombox-sized speaker, nor should you play your music loud enough to bother fellow parkgoers. So I love this lightweight speaker from JBL. It plays crisp, clear audio and fits nicely in my bag.
Tote
Because you need a style-forward bag to haul all of this shit in.
Sunscreen
Getting a life-changing sunburn? Not sexy. A man who understands the importance of SPF? Very sexy.
More Like This
The Charge will help you move better, think clearer and stay in the game longer. Subscribe to our wellness newsletter today.