A picnic is a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance, and usually in summer. Picnics are often family-oriented but can also be an intimate occasion between two people or a large get-together such as company picnics and church picnics. It is also sometimes combined with a cookout. A picnic basket and picnic blanket are usually brought along.
A fun place to picnic in Charlottesville is Carter Mountain Orchard. Carter Mountain has always been synonymous with pick your own peaches and apples and is absolutely the place to go if you want the best views in Charlottesville. Now, add yet another reason for making it up the breathtaking 1,150 feet to the peak - the Carter Mountain Wine Shop. Carter Mountain Orchard has partnered with Madison County’s Prince Michel Vineyard and Winery, which has held a dominant presence in Virginia for over 26 years. Prince Michel has been using Carter Mountain grapes to create their award-winning wines for years. The venture to open a tasting room at the very site of the vineyard is now a successful reality! In 2010, they started the “Sunsets on Carter Mountain” summer series! From mid-June through mid-September, visit Carter Mountain until 8PM on Thursdays for live music, wine and food, and spectacular vistas.
Some picnic foods include include Virginia Peanuts, Specialty Nuts, Peanut Butter Straws, Seafood Dips, Pork Barbecue and Gourmet Cakes from Rowena. 