Picnicking outdoors is an idea so perfect in its simplicity, yet so nourishing to the soul.
Now that early bouts of spring fever have abated and the weather is neither too cool nor too warm, communing with nature while noshing on portable foods is on the menu. Here are five suggestions for out-of-the-way places perfect for a family picnic and even a few suggestions of what to pack.

1. Rocks State Park, northern Harford County.
Rocks State Park lives up to its name with massive boulders rising above Deer Creek, which meanders through the park’s 855 acres of dense forests. The King and Queen Seat, once a ceremonial gathering place of the Susquehannock Indians, is a natural 190-foot rock outcrop reached by scenic trails.
Secluded glens along the shores of Deer Creek offer ideal spots for relaxing and picnicking, and opportunities abound for fishing, hiking, canoeing and tubing, bow hunting, rock climbing and repelling.
There are also playgrounds at each of the three picnic areas.
Cost: $2 per person; kids in car seats are free. Pets not allowed in picnic areas.
Directions: Take I-95 north to Route 24 north exit. Continue north on Route 24 through Bel Air, Rock Spring, and Forest Hill. The park is located about 30 miles north of Baltimore.

2. Tire Park at Patapsco Valley State Park, Baltimore County.
Talk about a kids’ paradise! If you haven’t taken your gang to this two-acre rubber playground located in the Hilton area of Patapsco State Park in Catonsville, then this should be on your spring to-do list.
It is exactly what it sounds like: a place to climb and jump with wild abandon. There’s a wooden train and a fort with a slide that lands in, what else, more tires. Much of the area is shady and there are plenty of picnic tables.
Plan for the park to be busy on the nicest days as this is one spot that is as far from a well-kept secret as they come.
Cost: $2 per vehicle on weekdays; $2 per person on weekends, though kids in car seats are free. No pets.
Directions: From I-695, take Frederick Road (Exit 13) to South Rolling Road and turn left. Make first right onto Hilton Avenue. Bear left for 1.5 miles to the park entrance on right. From Howard County, follow Frederick Road through Ellicott City into Catonsville, turn right at South Rolling Road and follow directions above.

3. Sherwood Gardens, northern Baltimore.
This suggestion is the antithesis of the first two, purely a place to stretch out on a blanket, soak in the sun and take in the surroundings. The ongoing festival of flora and lovely landscaping make this an especially nice setting for a laid-back, let’s-give-mom-a-rest-style Mother’s Day.
Sherwood Gardens is a 6-acre botanical park located in the Guilford neighborhood. There are brightly colored azaleas and other manicured plantings in this prime picnic spot, which is famous for its nearly 80,000 imported tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs. Dogwoods, flowering cherries, wisteria and magnolias also bloom throughout the garden. After the tulips finish blooming at the end of May, residents can dig up and purchase the bulbs since new ones are planted each year.
Cost: None. No pets.
Directions: Sherwood Gardens is located one block east of the 4100 block of St. Paul Street. Turn east onto East Highfield Road to reach the gardens. The gardens are bounded by East Highfield Road, Underwood Road, Stratford Road and the Greenway.

4. Gunpowder Falls State Park, Harford and Baltimore counties.
Parents may be surprised to know that kayaks and catamarans are available for a fee in the Hammerman area of this park, where there’s 1,500 feet of beach and a swimming area on the banks of the Gunpowder River. The swimming area is supervised by lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day and swimming is permitted at your own risk when lifeguards are not on duty.
Picnic tables and grills, playground equipment and a concession stand are available. This area is open year-round, except Christmas and Thanksgiving, from 8 a.m. to sunset.
There are also more than 100 miles of trails, including the 21-mile Northern Central Railroad (NCR) Trail, now known as the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail.
Cost: $3 per vehicle on weekdays and $3 per person on weekends and holidays in April, May, September and October; $3 per person daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day; out-of-state residents pay $1 more for all fees. Pets not allowed in picnic areas.
Directions to Hammerman area: From I-95 take exit 67A for Route 43 East (White Marsh Boulevard). Follow 43 to Route 40 east. After turning onto Route 40, turn right at the first light onto Ebenezer Road and follow it for 4.5 miles. The park entrance is on the left.

5. Centennial Park, Howard County.
Centennial Park’s 337 acres feature a 54-acre man-made lake, which is stocked by the state department of fisheries. Fishermen can cast for bass, trout, sunfish and tiger muskies. The park is home to a variety of wildlife such as white-tailed deer, beavers, foxes, turtles, and herons.
The 2.6-mile paved pathway around the lake’s circumference is popular with walkers, joggers and bicycle riders year-round. From late spring through early fall, boats are available for rent at the General Store/Boat Rental Office located in the park’s South Area.
Nine picnic pavilions are available on a first-come-first-served basis unless reserved, and there are three first-come-first-served picnic areas. There are several playgrounds scattered throughout the park.
“Sunset Serenades” summer concerts are held in the park on Wednesdays, July 7 through August 18. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a leisurely supper or visit the concession stand. While the event is free, a $3 parking donation is requested.
Cost: None, except as noted above. Pets not allowed in picnic areas.
Directions: From Route 29 take Route 108 West for 1.1 miles to park’s main entrance on the right.

PACK A KID-FRIENDLY PICNIC THAT’S PARENT APPROVED
Kids like finger foods and parents like no dinnerware – a marriage made in heaven. Consider these tried-and-true choices with a slight twist:
» Dip chicken strips in egg, coat with breadcrumbs and bake ahead for cold “fried” chicken that rivals the real thing.
» For kids who like cold pizza, assemble on bagels or English muffins, bake ahead for better taste and cool before packing.
» Pocket pitas keep their contents neatly inside. Reduced fat peanut butter and all-fruit jam on whole wheat is a kid favorite, but try diced apple instead of the jelly.
» Fruits that won’t brown are best, like strawberries, grapes, oranges and melon. Toothpicks make eating easy and fun.
» Yogurt that comes in tubes can be frozen for fun and safe eating. Look for low-sugar brands.
» Trail mix always hits the spot. Make your own mix with mini pretzels, cereal and dried fruit.
» Whole-grain crackers and precut cheese squares are easy to put together.
» Frozen bottled water and juice boxes or pouches will thaw en route yet remain cold for drinking.
» Oatmeal-raisin cookies would cap off a healthy picnic lunch, but a few chocolate chip cookies couldn’t hurt, either!