Hey there, my fellow foodies and nature enthusiasts! Mark your calendars for August 31 because it's National Eat Outside Day! Want ideas on where to go? Read on for Macaroni KID Auburn MA's favorite local restaurants with outdoor dining, to our favorite spots for picnics:
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Auburn & Beyond eateries with outdoor seating
Central MA is lucky to have a variety of restaurants and cafes that provide charming patio spaces where we can savor our favorite meals outdoors. Here are three of my family's favorite local restaurants with outdoor seating:
- 110 Grill Millbury
70 MA-146, Millbury, MA 01527 - El Patron Corona
111 Sutton Avenue, Oxford, MA 01540 - Brickstone Kitchen
4 Worcester-Providence Turnpike (RT146S), Sutton, MA
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Central MA's best picnic spots
Grab and Go to the Park! National Eat Outside Day is the perfect excuse to pack up a picnic and head to the nearest park in Central MA for an outdoor feast!
Three of the best spots for a picnic in Auburn & Beyond? My family loves:
- Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
198 Purgatory Road, Sutton, MA 01590
We love how close Purgatory Chasm is. It is really the perfect spot - scenic trails, an awesome playground, picnic tables and grilling, and minutes away from West End Creamery! There is plenty of parking too, but be advised there is fee if you're visiting May 14 through October 30 - $5 for MA Residents, $20 for Non-MA Residents.
- Douglas State Forest
107 Wallum Lake Road, Douglas, MA 01516
Not only can you enjoy swimming and boating at Wallum Lake, but there's also miles of woodland trails to hike and picnic tables and grilling (as well as pavilions in case you want some shade or coverage.) Be advised there is fee if you're visiting May 14 through October 30 - $9 for MA Residents, $30 for Non-MA Residents.
- Breezy Picnic Grounds & Waterslides
520 Northwest Main Street, Douglas, Massachusetts 01516
Make it a full day of family fun! Grab a picnic table or your blankets for your packed lunch (or visit their snack bar)...all while enjoying unlimited rides on the waterslides and swimming in Whitins Reservoir.
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Take it to the backyard
Rather eat at home? Order takeout and take that picnic right outside on your front stoop, or back lawn! For an at-home outdoor dining feast, my family typically orders takeout from Oxford's New England Pizza or Meiji.
If time is tight? A simple PBJ on the porch will do the trick just fine!
No matter how you do it, celebrate National Eat Outside Day this year! If you take part, make sure to tag Macaroni KID Auburn MA in social media posts so we can see how you celebrated in Central MA!
Bon appétit!
