There’s something about a fall picnic that just works.

The air is cooler, the leaves are changing, and you can actually sit outside without immediately looking for the nearest patch of shade. Add some good food, cold drinks, and a comfortable blanket, and you have a pretty solid way to spend a fall afternoon.

But a great picnic starts with packing the right stuff. Forget one or two essentials, and suddenly you’re eating sandwiches without napkins or realizing your cold drinks aren’t quite so cold anymore.

Before you head to the park, orchard, or your favorite outdoor spot, here’s what to pack for the perfect fall picnic.

1. A Big, Comfortable Picnic Blanket

Start with the most important part: somewhere to sit.

Choose a blanket that's large enough for everyone to spread out comfortably, with some extra room for food and drinks. If the ground might be damp from morning dew or recent rain, a blanket with a water-resistant bottom is especially useful.

Fall weather can also cool down quickly, so bringing an extra throw blanket isn't a bad idea. You can sit on one and use the other when the temperature starts dropping.

2. A LunchTote Packed With Fall Favorites

A picnic isn't much of a picnic without food.

Keep things simple with foods that are easy to pack, share, and eat outdoors. Sandwiches and wraps are classics, but fall gives you plenty of opportunities to make things a little more seasonal.

Try packing:

• Turkey and cranberry sandwiches

• Apples and caramel dip

• Cheese and crackers

• Pasta salad

• Grapes or sliced pears

• Pumpkin bread

• Apple cider donuts

• Cookies or brownies

Pack everything inside an insulated Sok-It LunchTote to help maintain the temperature of your food and drinks while making everything easier to carry.

And don't forget an ice pack for anything that needs to stay properly chilled.

3. Your Favorite Fall Drinks

You don't need to abandon cold drinks just because summer is over.

Sparkling water, soda, canned drinks, iced tea, and even iced coffee can all make their way onto the fall picnic menu.

For canned drinks, a CanSok can help manage condensation while providing insulation once your drink comes out of the cooler or LunchTote. That means fewer wet hands and a more comfortable can to hold while you're sitting outside.

If you're bringing a reusable water bottle, a BotlSok gives the bottle an added layer of protection while you're carrying it around or setting it down on outdoor surfaces.

4. An Iced Coffee — Because It's Still Iced Coffee Season

For some people, 60-degree weather means it's time for hot coffee.

For others, iced coffee season never ended.

If you're in the second group, bring your favorite iced coffee along for the picnic. A JavaSok slips around cold drink cups to help manage condensation, keep your hands dry, and help your drink stay cold longer.

It's especially handy when you're setting your cup down on a picnic blanket and would rather not leave a damp spot behind.

Cold brew surrounded by fall leaves? Makes perfect sense to us.

5. Reusable Plates, Cups, and Utensils

Finger foods make picnics easier, but you'll probably still want a few basics.

Pack reusable plates, cups, forks, spoons, and a small serving knife if you're bringing things like cheese, fruit, or baked goods.

Reusable options are sturdier than flimsy disposable utensils and can simply be packed back up and washed when you get home.

A small cutting board can also double as a serving tray.

6. Plenty of Napkins

However many napkins you think you'll need, bring more.

Between food spills, wet cans, sticky desserts, and unexpected messes, napkins disappear surprisingly quickly during a picnic.

Wet wipes are another useful addition, especially if your picnic spot isn't close to a restroom or sink.

7. A Thermos for Something Warm

Cold drinks can stay on the menu, but having something warm to sip makes a fall picnic even better.

Bring a thermos filled with coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or warm apple cider. It's particularly nice if you're planning to stay through the late afternoon when temperatures start dropping.

8. A Few Outdoor Games

Food might be the main event, but give everyone something to do afterward.

A football, frisbee, deck of cards, or compact lawn game can turn a quick lunch into an entire afternoon outside.

If you're heading somewhere with plenty of open space, bring something that gets everyone moving. You'll probably appreciate it after finishing those apple cider donuts.

9. Layers for Changing Weather

Fall weather has a habit of changing its mind.

It might be sunny and warm when you arrive and noticeably cooler a couple of hours later. Pack a sweatshirt, light jacket, or flannel even if you don't think you'll need one.

A hat and sunglasses are worth bringing too. Fall sunshine is still sunshine.

10. A Bag for Cleanup

The easiest way to leave your picnic spot exactly how you found it is to plan for cleanup before you arrive.

Bring a reusable bag or a couple of trash bags for wrappers, food scraps, napkins, and anything else you need to take with you.

Before you leave, do a quick sweep of the area for anything that may have fallen or blown away.

Make the Most of Fall While It Lasts

You don't need an elaborate setup to have a great fall picnic.

A comfortable place to sit, good food, favorite drinks, a few practical essentials, and people you actually want to spend the afternoon with are really all it takes.

Pack your LunchTote, slip a CanSok, BotlSok, or JavaSok onto your drink of choice, grab a blanket, and find a good spot under the changing leaves.

Because picnic season doesn't have to end when summer does.