Ever since I got this assignment, Martin Sexton’s “Going to the Country” has been running through my head. That guy’s a maniac, but he sure knows how to set the scene. I love any road trip song that captures that excitement of packing up for what sort of feels like a stolen adventure. It can be spontaneous or planned, but this post is geared toward getting you thinking about a planned trip to a country setting. If you’ve got a free day and live by any kind of nature, it’s a great idea to just GO there sometimes. With busy lives, it’s easy to forget how restorative just being away from computers and traffic can be.

I’ve become spoiled because my boyfriend has a country house (on the water) only 45 minutes from downtown, so we get to escape often without having to plan much. We really have to make a point to get off to a different destination. Being from Oregon, there are plenty to choose from. Assuming your trip to the country isn’t super spontaneous, we’ve put together some suggestions for maximum enjoyment of a day trip to the country. Think of this as giving a treat to someone you care about and take care of all the planning.

Step 1: Pick a location. Surely you know about places within an hour or two drive from your house, but if you don’t, ask around for the best spots this time of year. This varies so much by region, I’m not even going to attempt to tell you where to look, but not going to the most common place could lead you to a much better time since it won’t be as crowded. Just go to REI and ask someone if they know of a nice area that doesn’t involve hiking to get to and you won’t have to worry about breaking a sweat on your lovely day.

Step 2: Make an invitation. I think handwritten is best. If you’re really organized you could even pass them a list of things to bring along. Write the invite on quaint stationery. These ones from Boatman Geller are on sale:

The stationery sets the tone that it’s going to be a special day. (And this may inspire your guest to plan a surprise for you!) They’ll love anticipating the surprise.

Step 3: Choose an outfit. This is a picnic on a blanket, so avoid short summer dresses or short skirts. I think a layered tiered skirt or dress is ideal. You can wear leggings under it to avoid unpleasant sticky legs and duck into the bathroom to take them off if the air is dry and not too cool. Pair with a simple shirt or tank and bring a sweater that you can wear in the morning and evening , when it’s not as warm. Throw a jacket in the trunk, just in case.

Anthropologie is almost too easy, but they really do have the country-chic thing nailed. This gauze skirt is cute and if you get it in green you won’t be worried about grass stains.

Layered Gauzy Skirt $68

This one would be lovely for taller ladies.

Infinite Tiers Maxi Skirt $88

Another option would be a simple linen dress like this one from J. Jill. I like the pockets and imagine picking wildflowers and putting them in it.

Linen Knot Front Dress $79.

Wear shoes you can slip in an out of easily and don’t forget to have your toes done. Bring a pair of tennis shoes and some loose jeans in case you discover something like a waterfall nearby and you want to explore. Plan to be spontaneous. Especially if you are going with a boyfriend, he is going to care less about how you look than how much fun you are so being too fussy when things take a different turn than you planned will make you look bad, even with perfect make-up.

Step 4: Make a music playlist. Invest in portable speakers if you don’t have them. You’ll use them again and again. As for the music, I searched iTunes for “flower” and found “Beautiful Flower” by India.Arie and “Flower” by the Eels in about 2 seconds. A search for “River” brought up Sarah McLachlan’s cover of the Joni Mitchell song of the same name as the No. 1 selection. Basically, nature key words tend to generate mellow type music so have fun with that. Of course, Martin Sexton’s “Going to the Country” is a contemporary winner and Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” is a classic.

Step 5: Pack a picnic. I prefer bringing lots of items to snack on all day, rather than a big sandwich or one meal. Breads, cheeses and fruits that won’t get mushy are musts. And pack water and juices. As for booze? Once you surprise your guest with a trip, the least they can do is drive home right? An afternoon mimosa is divine on a picnic.

Getting a picnic basket like this seems tempting:

Picnic Basket for 2 $44.99

But I think they’re bulky and unless you plan on going on a lot of picnics it doesn’t seem worth it. I think a nice tote bag or backpack is a better choice.

Toile Tote $47.99

This toile bag was the cutest thing I could find on A Day in the Country’s website – a site I sooo wanted to succeed for this topic. (Alas, even my grandmother wouldn’t have liked most of the stuff on the site and she owned a pair of Capri pants with a sequin American flag so…)

With a tote, you can fit other things in it, such as bug repellent, a blanket and your iPod and speakers.

Step 6: Don’t forget the buggies. You are not the only one who’s going outdoors to eat. Flying bugs, especially mosquitoes, will get on you and suck your sweet blood if you don’ t think ahead. I hate bug spray and only use something with Deet under the most treacherous of circumstances. I know Trendspotter would chastise me for using it at all. But if you choose a location wisely and pack something like the safe Amazon Lights bug repellents, your picnic area should stay free of bugs and your skin as fresh as can be.

The cones are easiest to pack:

Insect Repellent Incense Cones – Set of 50 w/Ceramic Burning Dish $14.49

Step 7: Bring something to do. These playing cards from the Museum of Modern Art store are kind of slick. Literally. They don’t have the same sort of grip that other cards have, but if you’re going to buy playing cards, at least you should want to look at them again once your country adventure comes to a close.

Invisible Playing Cards $8.50

Step 8: Other miscellaneous things: Make sure your cell is charged, that you have a map of the area and that your car has a spare tire and full tank of gas. Bring snacks for the drive, sunscreen and your camera (charge that too.)

Step 9: Cap it off with a cap. OK, the secret’s out: You just planned this trip because you wanted an excuse to wear a crazy hat and you don’t go to Aretha Franklin’s church. I would wear this cowgirl hat:

Free People raffia cowgirl hat $78

Step 10: Leave early! I am a sleepy head. If it’s earlier than 8 a.m. on a weekend, I start having thoughts like, “This is my day off, can’t I enjoy SOME of it in my bed?” But then when I don’t get to my destination until noon and it’s gorgeous I always regret not having more time there.

Have fun and send us photos of you in cute hats!

~Posh Hippie