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Great Picnic Spots

© Christina Coruth

Pack a picnic basket, pile the kids into the car, and head for one of New Hampshire's beautiful State Parks for a day of fun in the fresh air and sunshine. Located in all parts of the state from the Great North Woods to the Sea and back across to the Connecticut River, you are sure to find one within driving distance. Most State Parks provide picnic areas and swimming for day visitors, at a very reasonable price. Check out the list at the end of this article to find the State Park that meets your needs.

And what is a picnic basket without potato salad? Here is my own recipe for those cooks, who like myself, need a detailed map to find their way around the kitchen. This recipe is simple with lots of room for experimentation, yet it's surprisingly delicious. Try it!

Easy Potato Salad
5 lbs potatoes
1 onion
2 cucumbers
5 stalks of celery
6 eggs hard-boiled eggs, shells removed
16-0z mayonnaise

The amounts of each ingredient can be adjusted according to
your taste and/or how much you have on hand!

Peel potatoes. Boil until they can be easily pierced with a
fork. Drain and refrigerate.

Chop onion rather finely. Slice celery rather thinly. (If the
stalks are large, slice in half the long way first.) Slice
cukes rather thinly. (Again, if they are large, first slice in
half the long way.) Let the cukes set on a paper towel for a
few minutes to drain out the excess moisture. All the veggies
can then be placed in a bowl together.

Chop the cold potatoes into potato salad sized chunks. Place in
a large bowl. Add veggies. Using enough mayonnaise to aid in
the folding, fold the veggies into the potatoes. Chop the eggs
and fold those in. The amount of mayonnaise used will depend on
your own taste and desired consistency. Refrigerate at least
two hours. This is best when refrigerated overnight. Remember
to keep potato salad in the cooler.

Add some cold chicken, a hamburger, or a hot dog, along with a
tall glass of lemonade or iced tea -- and you've got a great
picnic meal.

The following list of New Hampshire State Parks includes only those suitable for day trips.

Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown Merrimack Valley Region

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