Here in Southern Oregon, we are enjoying smoke-free weather for the first summer in quite a while. The smoke has rolled in quickly for the last several years and made it hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery in our area during the summer months. This year, we have been remarkably blessed to have enjoyed blue skies and light breezes in these hot summer months, and so many of us have headed to the surrounding lakes to play. If you are heading to one of the many options in our area, here’s some tips to planning the best lake day (trust us, you’ll be the hit hostess of all your friends):
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Begin with an invitation. Text anyone who might be interested in attending a lake day, and gauge the interest level. Decide what you’ll do if people need to cancel or reschedule due to schedules or illness, and how many people you’d like for an optimal group size. Usually a good rule of thumb is at least 1 adult per every 3 children attending, even if that adult is not directly supervising the groups of kids. That’s because if you are going to be near water, you will always want 1 adult to be responsible for watching swimming kids and then they can swap off. Alternately, you could hire a babysitter to come and help keep an extra eye on little ones.
Plan and pack: Begin with the obvious items, like towels, life vests, sunscreen, water bottles, chairs, and a large beach blanket to sit on. Then, add in a shade canopy (consider borrowing one if you don’t own it), plenty of sand toys and buckets, and a delicious menu (see below). Then, add in plenty of spare items because inevitably, something is forgotten. Bring spare towels, swimsuits (whatever sizes you own), swim diapers for toddlers or babies, and life vests. Other useful spare items are hair ties, hats, and flip flops. Lastly, bring a trash can and trash bag to help hold everyone’s dishes and garbage after you’re done. Tie off the top and transport it home to your own can, or put it in the trash near the lake.
Make an amazing menu! You’ll be the life of the party with a menu that will leave everyone in awe, and it’s much easier than you may think. Choose foods that can be prepped and prepared way in advance, and store them in a generously sized cooler. Bring paper plates, utensils, and cups so everything can be tossed when you’re finished eating. We recommend including items like:
Pasta Salad: use a sturdy pasta like rotini, and add veggies, cheese, and salami for a healthy and filling option.
Wraps: Wraps tend to hold up a little bit better than traditional sandwiches in a cooler. Make them in advance, We recommend Caesar salad wraps, and adding chicken breast. Bring the dressing in a separate container and add it at the last minute so that it doesn’t make them soggy.
Charcuterie: This is a surefire way to please lots of dietary restrictions because it gives plenty of options. Bring all the components separately and arrange them on a tray for easier transportation.