Life Ain't No Picnic

Normally, here's the spot where Marietta Patch can wax poetic about the Patch Picks topic of the week, and plenty of folks have said things about life in terms of picnics. (Heck, we just threw one in the headline.) But aren't you a bit sick and tired of the tough times of late being compared to picnics? Can't we just have the picnic?

And that's one of the many great things about Marietta ... picnic spots. There are plenty of places to just grab a basket or bucket or bag of food and plop down in the grass or sit under a pavilion and eat and socialize.

We normally come up with at least five picks, and we could be lazy and throw one of them out with the easiest pick of all: Glover Park. In fact, this story posts right after one of the city's wraps up. But we won't, we will offer a list of some other great spots for a picnic in Marietta.

1. . Ok, this park is another fairly easy pick. As the largest park in Marietta with 25 acres, Laurel Park has plenty of picnicking options. There are picnic tables and grills all over the park, and two pavilions are available for rent for large groups. Or you can plop down in a grassy area and start noshing away.

2. Lewis Park. Another great park with a playground, park benches and picnic tables. Rich Buss, director of Marietta Parks, Recreation and Facilities, says this park is a particular favorite for birthday parties and mother's morning out programs. He notes the many old growth trees that provide essential shade for great picnics.

3. Henry Park. Buss noted that one of the city's newest park, the 3.5 acre Henry Park, has a playground and gazebo that provide great amenities for a picnic. But he also said that a prime picnic location is across Reynolds Street under a large pecan tree. It's part of the park, he notes, but it does require crossing a street if a family wanted to both picnic and use the playground.

4. Shelters at both Merritt Park and Victory Park. Both of these parks have pavilions or shelters (and lots of old growth trees) perfect for picnics.

5. Big tree at . A shout out to the folks at the Marietta Museum of History for this great idea. And this is a great repeat site so you can enjoy the picnic and the ongoing efforts of the Aviation Wing to restore aircraft for the burgeoning history site.