Picnicking Summer Style, Not too Far from Upper Marlboro

There’s nothing like a picnic. What could be better than combining the great outdoors with good food, friends and family? That, by the way, is a rhetorical question. 

Patch shares a few of our favorite picnic spots, most of which are within easy reach of Upper Marlboro. We threw a few other, not-next-door, picnic-ready locations into the fray, too. 

In Eastport, we visited Horn Point Street End Park and George Washington Davis Memorial Park. Up the road a bit, we’re head-over-heels for the picnic table at Truxtun Park, which provides scenery and shade. Further up the road, you can’t beat Quiet Waters for different scenes, lots of shade, rental boats and a playground.

In Downtown Annapolis, there’s everyone’s favorite — the seawall. Choose from any of the great downtown lunch purveyors to complete your picnic: The Big Cheese/Sammy's Deli, Jimmy John’s, Sofi’s Crepes, Pip’s Dock Street Dogs and the list goes on.   

Then there’s the favorite road trip picnic — we thought about Washington, D.C. Of course, the National Mall has the Smithsonian, a carousel and a scenic spot like none other.

And if you’ve never been to Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD, you’re in for quite a treat. With gorgeous art deco architecture, a very historic carousel, The Puppet Company (http://www.thepuppetco.org/) and lots of greenery, it’s a contender for best picnic spots. Finally there's the National Zoo — on a day that's not sweltering, you really can't beat the nature-at-it's-best show.

As for what to bring, that’s easy – just about everything works on a picnic. 

"My goodness, the sky’s the limit what you want to put into picnics" said Judy Schwartzberg of The Big Cheese/Sammy's Deli in Downtown Annapolis. 

"We have a special that's been on our board for all the years we've been in business,” she said, “a picnic for two."

It includes a variety of cheeses and bread, along with drinks, plates and utensils, she said. 

"They always get plenty," she said. "Or they can make up their own picnic." 

And then came another another idea for a picnic.

"A lot of times people will take a limo to one of the local wineries in the area," said Schwartzberg. 

"Tis the season for picnics," she concluded.

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