My Favorite Things: The Picnic Cooler

I love our picnic cooler because it can go anywhere and keeps everything we need for an outing in one handy place.  When we were pushing a big stroller it fit in the basket. When we go on road trips it fits between the seats where everyone can reach it.  It's the perfect size for a picnic at the park with friends. The shoulder strap leaves my hands free to hang on to my children or carry other supplies.  There is a small flap in the lid that closes with velcro so we can grab something from it without unzipping the whole lid.  There are tall mesh pockets on each side and a roomy zippered pocket in front.

The center is solid and insulated and it protects the most important stuff: the FOOD. The plastic box removes easily for cleaning and sterilizing.  The outer pockets are good for cameras, sunscreen, wet wipes, diapers, napkins, anti-bacterial gel, first aid kit, water bottles, non-perishable snacks, or whatever you need. During the summer, we use it about once a week. Packing a lunch is more economical and often healthier than eating out and sometimes you're far from civilization and eating out is not an option.

Now that we are no longer pushing a stroller with a big basket underneath, the downside of this cooler is that it can be awkward to carry around if we will be walking all day. The last time we took it to the zoo, we carried it in, ate lunch soon afterward, and then walked it back to the car. Also, it can fill up quickly, especially if we are packing extra drinks. It is probably not large enough to carry a full lunch for a large family.  We often carry the drinks separately to make enough room for lunch and to lighten the load. If we are going to be near the van all day and have the space, we use a larger cooler.

I bought our picnic cooler at Wal-Mart for around $20. I don't think that everyone needs to have one just like it, but I'm sure that everyone who gets out of the house often has a go-to cooler or backpack that can carry it all.

 

Do you pack picnics for outings?  

How do you get everything from here to there?