Pack an ideal picnic at Picnic

After growing a following for sausage and charcuterie at a couple of East Bay farmers’ markets, Picnic opened a full-blown shop at the end of 2020. Given the challenges of the pandemic, the operation grew gradually, both in hours and scope. Now it’s a reliable spot for sandwiches, seasonal salads, charcuterie, specialty ingredients and random treats. Walking through the compact store can be a thrilling experience: Will there be supple flour tortillas from Xulo? Red wine vinegar from Camino? Natural wine from Berkeley producers? Salsa macha from Tacos Everywhere? Potentially all of those things, plus remarkably crunchy porchetta on Saturdays. Take your time deciding on what you want to eat for lunch, and don’t be afraid to stock up on goodies for your kitchen later. There are a couple of outdoor tables, but a better bet is walking a mile west toward the highway and over to the path to the Albany Bulb, where there are picnic tables right before the beach. Afterward, stroll through the Bulb, a former landfill that juts out into the bay, where walking paths converge with murals, graffiti and trash-based art installations. Also nearby is Golden Gate Fields, the Bay Area’s only horse racing track, where you can drop in for just $6 and pretend it’s the Kentucky Derby. If shopping is more your speed for the afternoon, head back to Solano Avenue and check out Morningtide, a stylish gift shop with beautiful handmade ceramics, and Oaktown Spice Shop, a destination for all things seasoning.