Al Fresco Dining

The jet lag has eased up, yet my mind is still a kaleidoscope of images from our summer vacation in Italy and Paris. As I'm sorting through 1,000+ photographs I've decided I'm not going to rush to get a post out immediately. Instead, I need some time to savor and remember the details of each place we stayed. I definitely came away with renewed appreciation for living la dolce vita, and the little luxuries of life, like dining al fresco. This simple alteration of daily planning costs nothing, except perhaps a bit of creativity.

Do you enjoy dining al fresco as I do?

Though I've enjoyed elaborate al fresco dining in the past, like this date night at home for Valentine's Day, a simple tapas menu is my favorite. It's easy to put together a platter of olives, nuts, crackers, cheeses, a bottle of chilled sauvignon blanc or rose', some pretty linen napkins and you have a perfect al fresco snack.

If you don't have an outdoor dining space at home, pack up your favorite nibbles, and a blanket, for an outdoor picnic. While Scott and I were in Siena we stayed in an historic apartment in the city center with no outdoor dining space. We put together a picnic and dined on the stairs of the cathedral with a number of Italian families, tourists, and pigeons, creating a memorable al fresco dining experience in Italy.

With that in mind, I discovered more beautiful inspiration for al fresco dining, from simple to astonishing, on my Pinterest board.

These images run the gambit from simple to swoon-worthy.  Read more on the 100 best places to dine al fresco in America according to Open Table.

Do you have any tips for dining al fresco?