The Ultimate Fall Picnic
Grab your best flannel and head outdoors
Forget summer. Fall is the best time of year for a picnic. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp and there's a limited supply of lovely days before Old Man Winter settles in.
So whether you're setting up front-row seats to the local football game or just planning on reading the Sunday paper at the park, here are the makings of the ultimate fall picnic:
L.L. Bean Waxed-Canvas Bag, $99
Skip the precious picnic basket and load all your gear into this sturdy waxed canvas bag. It's made of the same material as the Maine-based company's hunting shoes, so spills whisk right off.
Coca-Cola Life, price varies by retailer
The new Coca-Cola Life is the only drink you need to pack. The reduced-calorie, refreshing cola is sweetened with cane sugar and stevia leaf extract. And at 60 calories per eight-ounce glass bottle, Coca-Cola Life has 35 percent fewer calories than other leading colas.
Leather Head Handmade Football, $139
No fall outing is complete without the tossing of some pigskin. Pass on the regulation ball for this handmade variety designed with the grip of a backyard player in mind.
Pendleton Roll-Up Blanket, $129
A wet blanket puts a damper on any adventure. Keep your spread (and yourself) dry with a nylon-backed, autumnally colored plaid blanket. Extra chill in the air? Bring the wooly throw pictured in the background.
Stanley Thermos Food Jar, $32
Make a pot of your favorite soup and bring it along in this old-school thermos that doubles as a bowl.
Will Leather Goods Single-Handed Cutting Board, $224
Don't bother with plates. Instead, stuff your tote full of cheeses and cured meats and eat them right off this handsome cutting board, made of reclaimed wood from the Pacific Northwest.
Sip your Coca-Cola Life through straws that are one with the woods: Not only do they look like white birch, but they're also biodegradable and compostable.
Maserin 440 Stainless-Steel Folding Knife, $100
That charcuterie isn't going to cut itself. Pack this Italian-made, supersharp folding knife and start snacking.