EatingOxford: Top 5 Picnic Spots in Oxford

By Liz Barrett Foster 
As fall arrives (and cooler weather hopefully follows), it’s the perfect time to head outside and enjoy Oxford from the comfort of a sun-dappled picnic table or a warm blanket strewn under a welcoming shade tree.
Gathering food together for a picnic is easy. You can pack your own goodies in a cooler or reach out to your favorite local restaurant.
Bring food that’s easy to eat with your hands and offers quick cleanup such as cheese, sandwiches, nuts, fruits, vegetables, etc. Don’t forget napkins, plastic cutlery, cups and a trash bag so you can tidy up afterward.
Whether your picnic is with friends, family, or your significant other, there’s a place in Oxford that will offer the perfect backdrop.
Pat Lamar Park
Located on the corner of College Hill Road and Country Club Road, Pat Lamar Park is my favorite park in Oxford. The large walking trail, art sculpture installations and serene lake with dock create the ultimate backdrop for a lazy afternoon picnic. Bring your dog and a Frisbee and make an entire afternoon out of it.
Avent Park
Located at 104 Park Drive, Avent Park has an adorable castle-themed playground for the kids, a covered picnic table area with barbecue grill, a walk trail, and tennis courts next door. There are plenty of grassy areas for picnicking while watching the kids and lazing the day away.
Stone Park
Just across from the City Pool is Stone Park at 423 Washington Avenue. The park offers a playground, baseball field, covered picnic table area with barbecue grill and a recreation center for indoor activities.
The Grove
We’re all familiar with The Grove for tailgating, but when was the last time you sat under the canopy of one of those giant trees on a weekday afternoon or a Sunday sunset? It doesn’t have to be a game day to enjoy that feeling.
Oxford Airport Lookout
This one is a little off the beaten path, but if you’ve ever driven up or down Molly Barr Road, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the lookout for the Oxford Airport. Over the past few years, it’s become a popular spot for locals on a lunch break or those wanting to check out the gorgeous Oxford sunsets over the runway and hills. You won’t be able to lay out your picnic blanket (the police like to hang out here, too), but you can sit in the bed of your truck or roll your windows down to enjoy your lunch or a snack.

Liz Barrett Foster is the EatingOxford editor for HottyToddy.com, an award-winning business journalist and author of the recently published Pizza: A Slice of American History. Liz ran the popular restaurant information site EatingOxford.com from 2009 to 2015. Liz can be reached at liz.foster@hottytoddy.com.