My most romantic memory from our travels in Northern Europe occurred during a day trip to Salzburg, Austria. Perched on a bench outside of the breathtaking St. Peter’s Cathedral we indulged in crusty bread, a selection of cheeses, olives, fresh strawberries, and wine. The impromptu picnic become an unforgettable part of the day’s excursion and one that we have many times since repeated.
Our travel day is often interrupted by the need to find a spot to eat, the time it takes to get served, and the additional cost of another restaurant meal. This can blow your daily budget and sometimes requires a trade-off between sustenance and exploration. Instead, we now plan ahead and take a picnic.
Our entire meal was purchased the previous day from the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, Germany, stored in an insulated lunch bag in our back
packs and served on napkins pilfered from the restaurant the night before. The time spend exploring the market and making our choices was an experience in itself. Since we were in Munich for a number of days we purchased enough for more than one meal, making it further cost effective. This is also why we book apartments instead of hotels when staying in one city for a period of time. The kitchen facilities, however limited, can be useful in storing market fresh, local seasonal produce and for preparing light breakfasts and picnic lunches. The money saved goes into indulging our love of food during the evening meal.
Oh, and I mentioned wine. Purchased from a market vendor or local grocery store it’s much cheaper than buying it at restaurants. Quite by accident we discovered that a Contigo water bottle (available at Costco) will hold a full bottle of wine. These bottles are spill proof, generally opaque, and can be carried in a backpack without concern.
If this sounds like a great idea to you, it helps to be prepared by packing a few items from home;
- Zipper seal sandwich or snack bags are great for packing your goodies and carrying ice for freshness. They also serve as containers for the waste when you are done in case it has to go back into your backpack.
- An insulated collapsible lunch bag helps keep it all together and out of the way of other items in your pack.
- As mentioned above, the Contigo water bottles for both water and wine. We also travel with the Contigo coffee mugs for our hot beverages.
- Don’t forget a corkscrew and a set of sturdy plastic cutlery
If it’s easier, you can grab a premade sandwich or wrap from a local vendor to take with you. For cruise travellers, don’t be afraid to take something off the breakfast buffet before you leave the ship. Pastries, fruit, cheeses and cold meats make a great lunch.
A picnic prepared yourself is also an excellent solution to dietary restrictions, and to ensure you are eating a balanced and healthy diet while on vacation.
One important note – be respectful of where you stop and eat. Many major sites discourage picnicking and you may be asked to leave. Other areas, such as outdoor beer gardens in Munich, are okay with picnickers as long as you purchase a beer. Look for a park bench, a square or green space where locals are gathered. Be sure to remove all waste to trash bins or back into your pack for disposal at the hotel.
A traveler’s picnic; romantic, value added and time saving. Although it requires some planning and effort, trust me when I say it is worth it.