places for indoor picnics?

[SusannahM]

DH and I like to do a lot of picnics. However, when it is cold or rainy outside, that doesn't work out too well. So, I was hoping some of you could help me out with ideas on where to do an indoor picnic.

Here are some of the ones I've thought of:

- Malls
- Community colleges (most of them have a cafeteria and parking isn't too bad)
- grocery stores (some of ours have some chairs by the deli)

I was hoping, though, that someone could come up with places that have some areas that are a bit more comfy.

[sciencemama]

Maybe not what you're looking for but...a couple times our picnic plans have been interrupted by weather and dd has asked to have the picnic in the car. I park somewhere interesting-- for example, so we can see the planes and helicopters taking off from the airport, or boats sailing around the marina on a rainy day or kite surfers out doing tricks on a day that the picnic things would just blow away.

I admit that this is a really lazy activity but it gets us all out of the house

[rabbithorns]

This might be "less" comfy depending on what's available in any area, but there was a botanical gardens near us when the kids were really little. We used to walk over there and eat sitting on their benches. It was outdoors mostly and really pleasant. I miss it. I meant to also say, they had a whole indoor area that was nice to go to when we wanted to go out, but be sheltered from the rain.

There's one in town here, but I haven't visited it yet. Your post reminds me I'd like to check it out and see if it's appropriate for that kind of relaxing afternoon venture.

[klondikesky]

If you are in a larger city, nature conservatories or botanical gardens like rabbithorns mentioned are great. Most museums have brown bag lunch tables, even the dinky ones. Some newer libraries have cafes that might not mind 'alien' food. Forest preserves around here have large covered 'tabernacle'-style picnic areas, which would be lovely on warmer, rainy days, but not cold. If there is a college or university nearby, you can go to the student union/center. Oh, and the cotton gin office if you're in West Texas during ginning season.