Fall in Love with a Vintage Inspired Car Picnic

Imagine cruising in a vintage VW Fastback, the ultimate picnic car, as you prepare for an unforgettable outdoor backyard picnic. With a perfect picnic basket packed with a delicious picnic lunch, this is the ideal way to create lasting memories on your next road trip or even in your very own backyard.

Embrace quality time with your loved one, surrounded by the romance of the open road, making this your favorite way to enjoy a cozy, vintage-inspired picnic.

Classic Cars for the Perfect Picnic Setting

The perfect picnic car would combine style, functionality, and nostalgic charm, making it practical and aesthetically pleasing for an al fresco dining experience. Here are some great options:

Each vehicle brings its own unique charm and functionality to a vintage-inspired car picnic. The choice depends on the vibe you’re going for, whether rustic, elegant, adventurous, or laid-back.

The Perfect Picnic Spot: From Backyard to State Park

The perfect picnic spot for a vintage-inspired car picnic is nestled within the scenic beauty of state parks, where the back seat becomes a cozy retreat for savoring a lovingly prepared picnic spread. Amidst the fresh air and serene landscapes, these road trip picnics create lasting car picnic memories, blending the joy of exploration with the comfort of a well-curated meal.

With the car doors open and the trunk set up, it’s an ideal way to pause, relax, and fully immerse in the natural surroundings.

Backyard Car Picnic Bliss

Or, like me, you can set up your car picnic in your very own backyard. Either way, car picnics are the best, and you can capture some fabulous photos while you’re at it!

6 Must-Have Items for a Perfect Car Picnic

Creating the perfect vintage-inspired car picnic is all about choosing the proper essentials to enhance your outdoor experience. From cozy blankets to a curated selection of delicious, easy-to-pack foods, having the right items on hand ensures your car picnic is both comfortable and memorable.

With a bit of preparation, you can effortlessly create an easy car picnic date filled with your favorite foods and tired-and-true picnic recipes, all designed to make the moment memorable. Here are six car picnic essentials to get you started:

The Best Recipes to Pack for Your Car Picnic

When planning your vintage-inspired car picnic, having the perfect recipe items is essential for a seamless and enjoyable experience right from the backseat. From cold pasta salads stored in handy sandwich bags to other easy-to-pack dishes, preparing your own food ensures a delicious and stress-free outing.

Bringing it all Together

Once you have chosen your location, vintage car, picnic basket, and recipes, it’s time to style a fabulous car picnic.

Start by packing a bottle of wine and a selection of delicious finger foods so you’re always ready when the mood strikes. Add cozy blankets, elegant tableware, and handpicked wildflowers to create a charming atmosphere right in the back of your car.

Curate Your Car Picnic Look

Choose a theme for your car picnic by selecting your picnic style. Here are five ideas to help get you started:

Fall Picnic Vibes: My Personal Touch

With Labor Day behind us, I chose a fall-inspired motif by incorporating several of my mother’s Mount Vernon amber glassware, brown and white transferware dishes, linen napkins, and an antique green Toleware tray.

Topped off with a bottle of red wine, which we discovered at Upstate New York’s Four Maples Vineyard and Winery while Boondocking in our RV.

Learn more about Boondocking in our new Antiquing Road Trips & RV Decor Series.

Wildflower Picnic Bouquet

Next, I added a bouquet of seasonal sunflowers in a simple glass mason jar. The flowers add color and ambiance to our car trunk picnic.

Car Picnic Lunch

I picked up a blueberry pie at a local farm stand for our backyard car picnic and displayed it on a simple white cake stand with a matching brown and white transferware plate.

Maine Blueberries

Maine blueberries are in season from late July through August, offering the freshest and most flavorful berries during the summer months. Buying a blueberry pie in Maine is a must, as it’s made with locally harvested wild blueberries, known for their exceptional taste and sweetness. Incorporating a Maine blueberry pie into your picnic adds a delightful touch of local flavor, perfect for sharing and savoring outdoors.

Check out my friend Molly in Maine’s Wild About Maine (Wild) Blueberries post to learn more about Maine blueberries with all the recipes.

You may also enjoy this Pie Safe Antique Kitchen Cupboards Decorating Ideas post.

Cribbage Board

I grew up playing cribbage with my father. I recently found this old travel cribbage board with the original cards and pegs we used to use. I thought it would be the perfect after-game to add to our backyard car picnic activities. My husband has wanted to learn about cribbage for ages.

Adding a board game to an outdoor car picnic is a wonderful way to unwind and enjoy some friendly competition amidst nature. It brings people together, creating moments of laughter and connection that complement a vintage-inspired picnic’s relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere. Plus, it’s a simple activity to extend your time outdoors, making the experience even more memorable.

Car Picnic Basket

I actually found myself at a loss without a picnic basket here at our home in Maine. All my picnic baskets, including those my mother had collected, were back in Vermont.

But a girlfriend to the rescue with her classic picnic basket saved the day. Now, this blueberry pie looks so much more delectable in an authentic picnic basket, don’t you think?

Pendleton Classic Blanket

I chose this traditional-style Pendleton throw with a leather strap carrier for our cozy car picnic blanket.

Pendleton offers a variety of colors to choose from, too.

Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket

Originally designed by the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada, these blankets have been woven since the late 18th century and were initially used as trading goods between European settlers and indigenous peoples in North America.

The colored stripes or “points” were used to denote the size and value of the blanket, with each point representing a specific measurement.

Pendleton started popularizing striped wool blankets, incorporating similar designs into their heritage products. Due to their warmth and durability, these blankets are often used today in outdoor activities like camping and picnicking.

A time-honored wool blanket is ideal for an outdoor car picnic because it offers warmth and comfort, perfect for cooler weather or evenings. Its durability and natural resistance to moisture ensure that it will keep you cozy, even if the ground is damp. Plus, the timeless look of a wool blanket adds a touch of rustic charm to your picnic setup, enhancing the overall vintage-inspired aesthetic.

Find more blanket inspiration from my friend Kristin over at White Arrows Home in her post, Fall Decor Must Have | Vintage Camp Blankets.

Vintage Chairs

You can pick up a couple of old beach chairs at a local thrift store or antique shop to add to your car picnic.

They are lightweight and portable, ideal for quick setup and easy transport.

Their classic designs, whether wooden or retro beach styles, elevate the picnic setting with a cozy and stylish touch, making the experience feel more intimate and thoughtfully curated.

Car Picnic Photography: Creating Lasting Memories

Here are six top phone camera photography tips to help capture those perfect moments and make your picnic memories last a lifetime.

The Takeaway

As you pack up the last remnants of your vintage-inspired car picnic, it’s clear that the best thing about this experience is how effortlessly it combines nostalgia with the beauty of the great outdoors.

A car picnic offers the perfect time to slow down, savor simple pleasures, and create lasting memories with loved ones.

Whether it’s the charm of your setup, the delicious food, or the laughter shared, a car picnic is more than just a meal—it’s a moment to cherish. So, gather your favorite vintage pieces, find a scenic spot, and fall in love with the timeless tradition of an old-car-style picnic.

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