Plan a Perfect Picnic

2106 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201 (map)

Shortcut to the perfect picnic: meal-to-go boxes from this Evanston prepared foods shop, conveniently located en route to Gillson Park and Ravinia. Choose from 10 different boxed meals stuffed with homemade entrees, sides and desserts, all packed up with plastic utensils and napkins. The hardest decision will be poached salmon with dill cucumber sauce or mini sandwich sampler?

401 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60611 (map)

Serving as a mecca for Chicago foodies, this Streeterville gourmet grocery store near Grant Park boasts one of the best cheese counters in the city, not to mention a mind-boggling array of charcuterie, sausages and smoked fish. Grab a baguette from the bakery and a super-dark chocolate bar to fill out the basket. Sounds like a picnic we'd like to crash!

1646 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (map)

Stop by this tiny Bucktown gourmet carry-out shop to build your own sandwich or salad before hopping on the Metra train to Ravinia. A spectrum of colorful ingredient options like peaches, beets and mortadella encourages creativity, while tasty extras like the giant peanut butter cookies ensure that you'll be the envy of every surrounding blanket.

1660 E. 55th St., Chicago, IL 60615 (map)

Looking for a little slice of summer heaven? Stop by this friendly South Side neighborhood barbecue joint and pick up a down-home brisket sandwich with hickory honey barbeque sauce and a side of sweet potato fries. Then book it a few blocks to Promontory Point, grab some grass and try to conceal your moans of delight.

1337 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (map)

Inspiration for a romantic picnic for two abounds at this prepared foods shop from Chicago uber-chef Charlie Trotter. Situated just a hop, skip and a jump from Oz Park, it's the ideal place for picnicking gourmands to stock up on everything from seasonal salads, sandwiches, entrees and bakery treats to wine and flowers.

Michigan and Washington avenues, Wilmette, IL 60091 (map)

In the shadow of the majestic Baha'i Temple, Gillson Park's 60-acre expanse of green is a gem along Lake Michigan's Wilmette shore. The place is perfect for picnics, and also offers a public beach with lifeguard-supervised swimming and aquatic gear for rent.

400 Iris Ln, Highland Park, IL 60035 (map)

Throughout the summer, this large, serene outdoor music venue in Highland Park becomes ground zero for lazy evenings with cheap concerts, friends and the requisite, often elaborate, picnic dinners.