Everyone is talking "staycations. But hanging around the house can become mundane, especially when Memorial Day weekend usually ushers in the summer vacation season.

Picnics are the perfect solution: a way to get "out" without going too far away or spending a lot.

Picnics can fit any budget and can be as elaborate as white tablecloths and crystal stemware, or as casual and impromptu as last night's leftovers, or finger foods bought at the grocery store on the way out of town.

Whether it's a neighborhood park or a mountain campsite, just bring the food and let the outdoors set the mood.

You don't need a fancy basket — many a fine picnic has been packed in laundry baskets, a wooden crate or other containers you have on hand.

Pack it up

Limit yourself to what can be carried in a couple of trips from the car. The fun is gone if you have to walk back and forth from the parking lot with myriad lawn chairs, baskets, blankets and coolers. This is not the time to drag out all the glass casserole dishes. Light and unbreakable containers work best.

When packing, place heavy items on the bottom and those that are fragile (bread, tomatoes) on top. Or put the fragile items in sturdy containers.

Disposables are easy, but if you want to "think green," pack a reusable tablecloth, plates, cups, napkins and utensils.

To keep your tablecloth from blowing on a breezy day, turn up each corner and sew the edges of it into a small "pocket." Place a stone in each corner pocket when you set out the tablecloth to weigh it down. Or, pull out the trusty duct tape.

If your travel, waiting and eating time exceeds two hours, you'll need a cooler to keep meats and salads cold, or an insulated container to keep hot foods hot. After two hours at room temperature, harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning rapidly multiply. USDA guidelines say cold foods should be kept at or below 40 degrees; hot food should be kept above 140 degrees.

If you are planning to make picnics a mainstay of your entertainment this summer, consider investing in a cooler-on-wheels for portability.

To help keep foods cold, chill them in the refrigerator before packing. Keep them in the cooler until serving time.

Get double duty from your cooler space. Fill empty drink bottles half full of water or juice, and freeze. The frozen drinks can act as ice packs to keep the picnic cool in transit. At your destination, top off the bottles with water or a drink to sip through your meal.

Menu ideas

Consider your setting. If there's no table, you'll need foods you can balance while sitting on a blanket or folding chair.