Unusual Picnic Places Around the World

There’s nothing quite like a picnic surrounded by friends and family, soaking in the sun, sharing snacks, and enjoying the sounds of nature. Whether you prefer to use one big blanket, sit at a table with benches, or plop right onto the grass, it’s the perfect good-weather get together (and a great excuse to load up on delicious food). With this guide, you’ll find a picnic spot that’s guaranteed to impress your guests and spark envy in your enemies. These aren’t your average grassy fields; they’re oases colored by folklore stories, whimsical art, monumental moments in history, and otherworldly formations. From an abandoned power plant in the mountains of Mexico to a gold-mine-turned-swimming-hole in southern Australia, these are the best places across the globe for an unforgettable outdoor meal. 1. Old Zoo Picnic Area 📍 Los Angeles, California The first Los Angeles Zoo may have closed in the 1960s, but remnants still remain in Griffith Park, where they’re now outfitted with picnic tables and grills. Peek inside abandoned monkey cages and walk through the bear grotto in between bites, or wander a trail up from the caves for a view of what was once the lion dens. 2. Sports City 📍 Amman, Jordan This crumbling sporting complex, once the training ground for elite athletes, now consists of drained swimming pools, empty gymnasiums, and overgrown tracks. However, that doesn’t mean it’s gone unused; in a city where public green space is a rarity, the complex has become a popular spot for picnics, hookah smoking, and simply sprawling in the shade. 3. Ras Angela 📍 Ras Angela, Tunisia The rocky head of Ras Angela, or Cape Angela, juts out into the Mediterranean Sea, forming what is considered to the northernmost point of Africa. Marked with a Tunisian flag and a sculpture of the continent, it is a peaceful spot to enjoy a picnic and ocean views. You can also lay out your towel on the adjacent sandy beach and take a dip into the perfectly blue water. 4. Bomi Blue Lake 📍 Tubmanburg, Liberia When the Liberia Mining Company abandoned its operations here in the late 1970s, it left behind a series of pit mines, which eventually filled with spring water to become a single beautiful lake. With clear, unpolluted waters, the lake is open for swimming, and the wooden pavilions around its perimeter are great for picnics. 5. Christy Buchanan’s SHE Garden & Gallery 📍 Winnsboro, South Carolina This whimsical folk garden was created by artist and architect Christy Buchanan, who dreamed up a space that would reflect the nuanced beauty of everyday found objects. Visitors can have a picnic in the Love Shack, take pictures under the bicycle arch, or commune with ancestors in the Tiki hut. Buchanan also constantly adds to the site, so you’re sure to spy new works each time you visit. If her SUV (nicknamed Happy) is in the yard, Buchanan is home, but feel free to stop by even if she isn’t. 6. Old Wardour Castle 📍 Tisbury, England After being decimated in a 1642 siege, this castle’s military career ended; however, it has found a second life as a tourist attraction. Fully restored and transformed with neat landscaping, the estate is now a favorite spot for picnics, weddings, and even film crews. Visitors to the castle can still climb the worn tower stairs for a sweeping view of the English countryside or lounge in the same sun-soaked courtyard that English barons once frequented. 7. Woolshed Falls 📍 Beechworth, Australia Once the center of a massive, 19th-century mining enterprise, these falls have since been reclaimed by nature, with channels worn into the rock forming natural showers, baths and waterslides. There’s also a plunge pool at the end of the falls, unusually deep for its size thanks to the large amount of gold removed from the silty bottom. Accessible by two different walking paths, the falls are a pleasant, family-friendly spot for picnics, swimming, and rock jumping (though children should be closely supervised). 8. Tuzluca Salt Mines 📍 Tuzluca, Turkey The Tuz Mağarası, or Tuzluca Salt Caves, have supplied salt to this region since medieval times, though they only recently opened to the public. Now, anyone who’s not too claustrophobic can walk a boardwalk through the curving, cavernous interior. Warm lighting lends the dark space a cozy atmosphere, and picnic tables set around the chamber walls invite visitors to set up camp and stay a while. 9. Gravelly Point Park 📍 Arlington, Virginia Most aircraft approaching Washington National Airport loop over this small Arlington park in their final descent, and locals gather for the spectacle of roaring engines, screeching wheels, and the unmistakable scent of burnt rubber on the runway. With plenty of wide open space for kids to run around and close-up views of the Potomac River, Gravelly Point is the perfect place to spend an afternoon munching on snacks and staring up at the clouds. 10. La Planta 📍 San Agustín Etla, Mexico On the mountainside above San Agustín Etla, this former water-powered electric power plant is now a popular spot for hikers and picnickers to take in sweeping views of the city. A poem posted near the ruins reminds visitors of the importance of nature, proposing that the Earth’s resources are significantly more valuable than money: “Only after the last tree is cut ... only after the last river is poisoned ... only after the last fish is caught ... only then, you will understand ... that you cannot eat money.” 11. Al Wathba Fossil Dunes 📍 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates This area on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi was once covered by water. However, over time, as sediments settled at the bottom, the many mineral-heavy layers became compacted and cemented into stable structures. Since then, they’ve been further molded by winds and sediment into utterly unique shapes. This seemingly-endless desert landscape is popular for early-morning picnics and also makes for a great camping spot. Just remember: The sand figures are incredibly fragile, so under no circumstances should you climb them. 12. Tiger Cave 📍 Mahabalipuram, India Surrounded by swaying casuarina trees in the Bay of Bengal, Tiger Cave has long been a favored recreation spot among locals willing to make trek there from town. The site’s name comes from its crown of 11 tiger-esque heads carved around the entrance to its gaping maw. Archaeologists believe that the site likely once served as a portico from which rulers spoke or observed festivities. The park’s grounds are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India as a free, public space, and between its lush greenery and food and drink stands, it’s a pleasant spot for those seeking respite from Mahabalipuram’s busy streets. 13. Sa Stiddiosa 📍 Gadoni, Italy A hike through the heart of Sardinia will lead you to this gentle waterfall, though its name actually translates from the Sardo dialect to “dripping” rather than “falling.” Local families descend into the valley to picnic, bathe in the Flumendosa River’s cool, shaded waters, and jump off the large boulder at the river’s center. 14. The Dick Lane Velodrome 📍 East Point, Georgia Atlanta’s hub for all things cycling is a 1/5-mile track with 36-degree banked turns, which intrepid competitors race down at 40 miles an hour. Located in the city’s East Point neighborhood, the Velodrome has become a point of civic pride and local entertainment with its concession stand, public seating, picnic area, and plentiful green space. The East Point Velodrome Association runs activities on-site throughout the year, from bike safety clinics to a youth cycling league.

Read it at Atlas Obscura ↗

← Front page