Nothing beats the fun of regularly taking picnics with your kids, spouse, or loved ones. For starters, being out there on a sunny afternoon gives you all a good dose of fresh air and the sun’s vitamin D. It also lets you break from your everyday routine as you relax, ward off stress, bond, and have a good time with the people close to you.


Now, if you live in Bozeman or are visiting from nearby, you’re in luck because you will never run out of places to enjoy the outdoors on a picnic. However, your picnic will hardly be anywhere perfect without the following essential items.

Essentials You Shouldn’t Miss In a Bozeman Picnic

1. A Picnic Blanket

One of the first things you shouldn’t forget to bring to a Bozeman picnic is a blanket. This is especially if your picnicking location doesn’t have arranged picnic tables and benches. After all, much of the fun in picnicking is experienced when seated down on the green grass feeling the breeze and enjoying the sun. A sizable blanket also allows you to spread and safely place your refreshments and other belongings for the picnic. For the best results, consider the picnic blanket types that come with a waterproof lining in case the grass or ground is wet.

2. Sunscreen 

With an average of more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Bozeman is known to be Montana’s sunniest city. This is perhaps one of the reasons why it ranks top in the best places to live in the state of Montana. All the same, the last thing you want is to come home with sunburns after a nice picnic, so be sure to pack some sunscreen.

3. A Picnic Basket, Carrier, or Cooler 

This one is almost obvious, but sometimes it’s easy to forget for a first-timer in picnicking. Some people prefer backpacks or totes, but picnic baskets are especially great for romantic picnics. Depending on the kind of food and drinks you’ll be carrying, a cooler is sometimes considered more appropriate.

4. Corkscrew or Bottle Opener

If you’re planning to have some wine or pop some champagne during your picnic, you want to make sure you have a way to open the cork. This means bringing a corkscrew but for those who prefer having some beers or soda, a bottle opener will come in handy. Also, remember to pack a knife, some disposable plates, spoons, and so forth if you plan on having a home-cooked meal.

5. A Hot Flask 

If you’re going to picnic on a chilly day, you might need a warm drink instead of wine or cold beverages. A thermos flask lets you bring hot water so you can make instant coffee, chocolate, or tea. When it comes to making hot water, the Fellow Stagg Kettle collection at Ssense has a range of electric and stovetop kettle options you might be interested in. Most of these allow you to boil water in roughly a minute or less.

6. Bug Spray 

Like most other places around Montana, bugs are expected during a Bozeman picnic. These creepy bugs of Montana may range from spiders to biting and stinging insects. Carrying some bug spray or insect repellant can be a great way to protect yourself and your loved one/s.

7. Wipes or Paper Towels and Trash Bag 

Depending on the type of meal you’ll be taking on your picnic, some wet wipes or paper towels can come in handy. They help in wiping out messes after eating outdoors or even cleaning the picnic table, food containers, as well as your hands before the meal and afterward. A trash bag will also help ensure you don’t leave the environment littered. From Lindley Park to Kirk Park, Cooper Park, and Valley Unit Park, Bozeman is home to tens of local picnic-friendly parks. It also hosts a whole range of awesome outdoor places where you can have incredibly special picnic moments with your loved ones. To make the experience complete, now you know what to pack when heading to a picnic in Bozeman.