Picnic

For a picnic in Central Park, guests at the Mark Hotel in New York can grab to-go lunches created by famed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten to carry or to take via the hotel's custom bikes, which feature details such as monogrammed bells and come with signature black helmets and baskets. The a la carte menu includes steamed shrimp salad, grilled organic chicken sandwich, and a cookie plate, with items ranging in price from $7 to $37. The gourmet basket contains all the picnic essentials as well, including a blanket, cutlery, and condiments, along with an illustrated bike map curated by the chef concierge. To request, call the concierge at 212.606.3129.

Whether planners are looking to relax on the grounds or take a trip to one of Los Angeles' beaches, Hotel Bel-Air offers its signature picnic, complete with blanket, pillows, and table trays. The menu includes a la carte options such as grilled cheese, assorted charcuterie and salumi, tuna tartare, house-made soft pretzels, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Approximate pricing for a three-course meal starts at $60 per person, with a set-up fee of $75 for each picnic. The picnics are set for two, but guests may contact the hotel for larger party requests. Call 310.472.1211 for more information.

The New York Hilton Midtown, located blocks from Central Park, recently introduced picnic baskets from its gourmet market Herb N’ Kitchen. For $68, guests can dine on a Murray’s Cheese plate, two sandwiches, a kale and smoked tofu salad, a slice of New York cheesecake, and a bottle of wine. Call 212.586.7000 for more information. The Hilton Chicago also offers similar baskets from its market, with a variety of options for on-the-go travelers, such as salads, artisanal sandwiches, and gelato. Prices vary. Call 312.922.4400 for more information.

As part of its "Bike with a Manager or Chef" package, Kimpton's the Grand Hotel Minneapolis allows guests to tour the city with a true local. The five-mile guided bike ride, which takes place every Sunday morning at 8 a.m., ends with a picnic brunch at Stone Arch Bridge prepared by chef Kris Koch of the hotel's SIX15 Room. Bikes and helmets are provided. Cost is $20 per person, with a maximum of five guests. To book, call 612.288.8888. The special runs until September 30, and requires 72-hour advanced booking.

For those groups who want to experience a taste of outdoor dining minus the al fresco part, the historic Hotel du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware, offers a "Picnic on the Green" lunch special until September 5. Guests as well as the general public can enjoy a three-course pre-fixe lunch menu of classic American fare, including lobster rolls with malt vinegar chips, fried chicken and waffles, and key lime cake, inside the hotel's Green Room restaurant. Cost is $22 per person, not including gratuity. For reservations, call 302.594.3154.

At Corkbuzz Chelsea Market in New York, guests can build their own picnic lunch boxes ($16) to enjoy on the nearby High Line park with a bottle of wine from Chelsea Wine Vault, also located in the marketplace. Menu options include sandwiches such as pulled barbecue chicken, fried soft-shell crab, and grilled cheese, plus popcorn and a house-made chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Contact 646.237.4847 for more information.

At the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro in Boston, guests can order up a rustic basket with a blanket for dining at the nearby Public Garden or Boston Common. The a la carte menu includes upscale picnic grub such as a roast chicken B.L.T., baked croque-madame, and Connecticut-style crab roll, with prices ranging from $12 to $20. The baskets can serve two to 30 guests. Lunch is available Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Guests need to call one hour ahead to place their order. For parties larger than 10, the Bistro requires 24-hour notice. For more information, call 617.723.7575.

Stella Artois launched its "Host Beautifully" campaign in Los Angeles last May with a picnic-style alfresco event that invited guests to go in short rides on tethered hot-air balloons that were branded with the company's logo.

Guests at the Stella Artois event dined at several long, farm-style tables, which had no linens—but were instead topped with abundant white flowers.

At the Adam Lippes for Target preview in New York last year, David Stark Designs set up a rooftop garden for a picnic-style event using Adam Lippes blankets, pillows, and travel bags.

Adding sparkle to the notion of traditional picnic decor, Starbucks Canada promoted its Teavan Sparkling Tea Juices last summer with an event that used golden fruit for an eye-catching centerpiece.

As outdoor affairs, picnics can entice guests with pet-friendly offerings. At the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS Picnic by Design fund-raiser in New York last year, Rixner & Wright created a cheerful picnic setup with a patterned doggy bed and accessories.

Also at Picnic by Design, Gensler demonstrated that picnic-style events don’t have to include springlike colors and patterns. Instead, Gensler created a minimalist design using gray felt for an understated feel.

Bunting hung over 170 tables for 700 guests in the V.I.P. picnic space within the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles in 2013.

Adrienne Bosh, who is married to Miami Heat player Chris Bosh, hosted a motivational event known as “Glamchella” last summer in Miami. At the affair, bohemian-inspired decor included textured table linens, Buddha sculptures, lanterns, and jewel-toned cushions for seating.

Last year in Southern California, Anheuser-Busch-owned beverage brand Shock Top launched its summer seasonal Lemon Shandy beverage at a Ventura County lemon grove. Appropriately, simple citrus fruits in crates served as tabletop decor.

Boccie ball was among the casual, picnic-style outdoor activities for guests.

Capitalizing on the outdoor scenery in the orchard, organizers provided an open frame as a photo prop to encourage guests to snap pics and share on social.

For its first foray in Austin, Texas, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted the Urban Picnic by Design event in 2014. Rebekah Gainsley of Blink Interiors covered a table with a hammock-like lace canopy with lights and potted plants.

During the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival in the Southern California desert last year, the Retreat at the Sparrows Lodge topped a table with floral arrangements, taper candlesticks, games, and other objects that created a relaxed atmosphere.

The Coachella event’s design also included a silk patchwork canopy for relaxed seating amid Persian rugs, Native American artifacts, succulents, kilim pillows, and leather accents.

American Diabetes Association hosted its annual Los Angeles Political Roast in March in Beverly Hills. Red-and-white checked linens topped tables for a classic picnic look.

At TEDActive in the Palm Springs area in 2013, organizers offered picnic baskets for groups of seven. The idea was to encourage each person to meet six others with whom to eat and connect.

Grab-and-go options also included Mason jars filled with Italian pasta salad.