11 Picnic spots for 'eat outside day' in prescott, az

This week we are thinking about and celebrating local places, local-ness, the beautiful scenery we are lucky to have, and picnics.  Let me explain!

Tomorrow is International Picnic Day, not that we need a special holiday to make a picnic worthy of celebrating.

And since we want to share time with Dad on Sunday, I think we should all spend the day outside  with our family and friends enjoying a picnic.  There's nothing that sounds bad about that, right?  Consider that aside from some well-earned downtime, there are health and general wellness benefits too!!  

• It's a great way to slow down, leave that cell-phone and laptop behind... take a mental break
• Get a boost of natural vitamin-D, something many of us need more of
• Stretch out, breathe the fresh air, have no-where to go
• Food always tastes better when enjoyed outdoors (right?)
• Elevate all your senses by observing your surroundings
• And if you choose to hike it in, you'll work up that appetite plus get a good workout
• Most of all spend some quality, undistracted time with your fellow picnic-ers

Keep reading to see my list of local Prescott picnic-worthy spots.

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Picnic baskets are fun, but not a requirement

​Here at The Whiskey Porch we treasure a smaller & simpler lifestyle which allows us to spend more time doing what's more important to us than working to pay the mortgage or cleaning the big house.  And friends and picnics are just about the most splendid way to spend a little downtime.

​So in the spirit of having your sumptuous picnic somewhere in the pines of Prescott, I wanted to share a list of lovely local spots for you to checkout and explore.  Be sure to check first if the location you have in mind allows dogs, or requires them to be on leash, and if there are any restrictions.  

Lets get to it!
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Click the location name for the link to get more deets.
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​Picnic spots In and around town

1. Watson Lake (and the Dells):
You'll find boulders, views, boating, trails, and picnic areas. 

2. Willow Lake:
Enjoy boating, a bird sanctuary, and picnic areas.  
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3. Goldwater Lake:
This is a small lake but shaded by trees, with trails, horseshoe pits, benches a few picnic tables.  

4. Acker Park:
A quiet natural park above the downtown, with over 80 acres of open space and a picnic area.

5. Granite Creek Park:
This is a really neat spot but gets mixed reviews -- but soon to be improved.  There's a lot of resources being invested to clean this up and I'm starting to see local coffee shops and restaurants along the creek planning new patios oriented towards this creek.

6. Courthouse Square
While it's technically not a picnic location - it's a very large shaded grassy area surrounded by the historic downtown shops and buildings.  Bring a blanket and some chairs! 

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picnic-ing a bit further afield

Crystal and chilled wine kinda picnic

​Many of these locations are technically still in town and all are just a short drive from Courthouse Square, which is well worth the effort.

Most of these spots are also connected directly to the spectacular trail system we enjoy here in Prescott, so you can start off with a hike or mountain bike ride and finish off with a leisurely picnic afterwards.

7. Thumb Butte 
This is one of the most iconic landmarks in Prescott, and the area includes hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding opportunities in addition to picnicking.

8. Granite Basin Lake
You can enjoy fishing, non-motorized boating, camping and so much more along with picnic areas, offering grills and firepits.  All in shadow of the close to 8,000 foot Granite Mountain.

9. Groom Creek Area 
Find everything from camping to horseback riding and picnicking in the cool pines.  

10. Iron Springs 
 Maybe try some bouldering before you sit down to have a picnic under the ramada.

11. Lynx Lake 
  Mountain bike and hiking trails, camping, fishing, picnicking and Highlands Center for Natural History is right there too.
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bonus:  a great trail map & some special places

Ibis is the most amazing trail dog!!

​My husband and I really enjoy the wilderness and trail systems around Prescott.  He's mostly on one of his very cool mountain bikes and I'm always on foot hiking with Ibis the dog leading the way.   She's the most amazing trail dog!!

We like to explore different parts of the Prescott National Forest together and then we'll meet back at the truck after a few hours to head back home.

​I've got 2 really awesome bonus links to help you get the most out of your adventures:
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Avenza Trail Maps
I always have this map of the Prescott Trails and Rec Areas up on my phone when we head out and I've found it to be incredibly handy.  You'll find the phone app for iOS and Android links on their website. 

Prescott National Forest - Special Places
The forest service works hard to help protect and provide access to some very Special Places here in the Prescott National Forest area.  This page on their website will get you started...
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Tell Me what you think

I hope you found this roundup useful and inspiring!  If you've had a chance to picnic at any of these spots I'd love to hear what you thought - share your comments below.

Or if there's a great spot I'm missing on the list, let me know so I can add it!

Here's our go-to resource page to get more on picnics.  
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Picnic in Prescott

​Cheers and happy picnicking!
~Miriam 
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