Mount Pleasant Magazine Sept/Oct 2020

www.CharlestonBrides.com | www.ChsWomenInBusiness.com | www.ReadCWomen.com feature and feta cheese, topped with good olive oil and flaky sea salt, is easy and refreshing. You can’t have a picnic without dessert, and low- mess, handheld treats are a must. Turn your favorite crumble recipe into an easy-to-eat bar, opt for ice cream sandwiches, or keep it simple with chocolate chip cookies. Orchestrating the perfect picnic doesn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen. If an escape from cooking is what you’re after — but you’d like to enjoy something more complex than a sandwich — many local restaurants and caterers offer family meal specials that pair perfectly with fresh air and sunshine. It’s easy to focus on the food and overlook drinks, leading to a last-minute scramble for soda at the convenience store. Pick out something with a bit more flair, like a sparkling lemonade, and you’ll see how a little bit of planning can make the entire outing feel a bit more special. THE PICNIC SPOT East Cooper has loads of beautiful places for a picnic, including all the essential amenities you need to feel right at home. When you’re scoping out potential spots, keep an eye out for public restrooms, trash cans and water fountains. Here are a few of my favorite places to throw out a blanket and dine al fresco. Isle of Palms County Park is the key to enjoying a beachy picnic without getting sand in your sandwich. The park offers an abundance of picnic tables just steps from the surf, a playground to keep kids entertained, restrooms and grills, in case you’d prefer to do your cooking on-site. Parking fees range from $5 to $15, based on the month and day of the week, but parking is free with a Gold Pass, a membership that grants access to all Charleston county parks and is essential for picnic enthusiasts. Palmetto Island County Park is another Gold Pass participant and an ideal place for families to set out their spread. The 943-acre park features bike paths, boardwalks, an off-leash dog park, boat rentals and an open meadow that was made for throwing a frisbee. Covered and open- air picnic tables make this park perfect at any time of day, and the $2 per-person fee equals an affordable way to spend the day with your family.