Baskets & Blankets: Planning Your Perfect Picnic InTheBurg
April 23rd is National Picnic Day, and Spartanburg's warm spring weather is the perfect climate to pack a basket, lay down a blanket, and enjoy a spread of snacks outdoors.
InTheBurg is unpacking our top picnic basket items, easy restaurant takeout, favorite parks and lesser known picnic lawns, outdoor accessories from local businesses, and more.
Grab your sunscreen, bug spray, (and maybe allergy meds,) and let's go!
Picnic on the Shoals; Spartanburg Area Conservancy
Where To Lay Your Picnic Blanket
Before planning your lunch bites, choose your destination! Then, let the picnic surroundings help determine the meal you bring. Spartanburg County is full of excellent parks, trails, and quintessential picnic lawns; here’s just a few to get your gears turning:
Picnicking Lawns & Leafy Locales:
Barnet Park (248 East Saint John St, Spartanburg)- Convenient to downtown Spartanburg, with ample parking at Chapman Cultural Center and a splash pad
Fretwell Spartanburg (101 Fretwell St)- Grassy lawn and picnic tables just off the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail, with a full kitchen, coffee menu, and restrooms via Little River Roasting
Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve (820 John B White Sr Blvd, Spartanburg)- Nine gardens to wander via paved trails, with an observation deck perfect for picnicking
Family-Friendly Picnic Playgrounds:
Airport Park (500 Ammons Rd, Spartanburg)- Watch planes take off and land from this airport-themed park at the Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport, featuring two playgrounds, a splash pad, walking trail, and large lawn
Cleveland Park (141 North Cleveland Park Dr, Spartanburg)- Scenic pond and gazebo surrounded by cherry blossoms, with ample parking, picnic shelters, restrooms, and a playground
The Rail Yard Community Park, Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail (353 Forest Ave, Spartanburg)- Lawn, amphitheater, picnic shelter, Panthers Play 60 playground, and the Vic Bailey Subaru Bike Park
Looking for more parks with playgrounds? Here’s a curated selection across Spartanburg County from Kidding Around.
Picnic Destinations with a View:
Glendale Shoals Nature Preserve (123 Emma Cudd Rd, Glendale)- Historic textile mill site and bridge via Spartanburg Area Conservancy, with a community garden and nature trail
Nesbitt Shoals Nature Park (3100 Walnut Grove Rd, Roebuck)- A lesser known riverside park via Tyger River Foundation, with a leisure trail and plenty of sunny rocks to stop for lunch on
Packing Your Picnic Basket
From classic PB&J sandwiches and chips, to grab-n-go takeout lunch, planning your picnic’s food can be as simple or involved as you’d like! Here’s a few sandwich and hand-held dining options…
Downtown Spartanburg:
Ali Baba Restaurant (201-B Wall St)- Hummus Platter, Lamb Gyro
Blue Moon Bodega (220 Daniel Morgan Ave)- The Boda-Bing Sandwich, Lox of Love Bagel
Blue Moon Specialty Foods (130 South Church St)- Build Your Own Salad Bar, The Birdie Wrap
Pokenori (119 North Church St)- Custom Sushi Burrito or Bowl
The SamMitch Shop (201 Wall St)- The Samuel Cold Sub, The Mitch Melt- Smashed Style
Spartanburg County:
Biazzo Deli (212 East Rutherford St, Landrum)- Nonno Hero, Caprese Hero
Converse Deli (551 East Main St, Spartanburg)- Converse Chicken Salad Croissant, Grown Up Grilled Cheese
Flock Shop (970 South Pine St, Spartanburg)- Down South Chicken Sandwich, Flockin’ Tenders (heat level of choice)
Monster Subs (8039 Warren H Abernathy Hwy & 3720-D Boiling Springs Rd)- The Terminator Signature Sub
Do you prefer a fancy spread of finger foods? Find our charcuterie recommendations here: Locavore’s Charcuterie: Building a Better Board InTheBurg
Businesses To Plan a Better Picnic
Picnics can be as simple or fancy as you prefer, but there’s a few elements that can elevate any afternoon picnic to an outdoor adventure.
Downtown Spartanburg retailer, The Local Hiker (173 East Main St) stocks a wide variety of outdoors goods for both seasoned and novice explorers. Find bug spray, sunscreen, dissolving hand soap sheets, water bottles, waterproof blankets, camp chairs, trail maps, and more in stock.
And for the all-important picnic basket… Backpacks, tote bags, and coolers do the job, but if you’re looking for a classic wicker basket to complete your picnic look, check Spartanburg’s local thrift shops. Carol’s Hope Thrift offers six stores across the Upstate to shop, with proceeds helping families battling childhood cancer.
Happy Picnicking! Tag us in your outdoor adventures on Instagram at @InTheBurg864.