Picnic table called the picNYC table includes the grass. Photo courtesy of Haiko Cornelissen Architecten - Amsterdam

By Erica Puisis

Picnicking on picnic tables is an occasion for food, fun, and frivolity enjoyed by people of all ages worldwide. During the summer months, even more people are finding time to take their favorite snacks to the great outdoors. While many of these picnics take place at standard picnic tables dotting parks and city centers, there are some more unusual pieces of furniture that make for an interesting outdoor dining experience.

The picnic table well-known and well-loved is often a simple wooden or metal table, accompanied by long benches on either side. These simple surfaces have seen parties and potlucks, feasts and fun, and more graduation parties than you can count. They've evolved over the years into different shapes (round, square, ADA-accessible, and more), and have been made of many different materials - including metal, concrete, recycled plastic, aluminum, and more.

Here's an interesting twist on a classic picnic table - a table with a roller coaster design. Created by Michael Beitz

But some of the most memorable picnic tables in the world take the picnic experience to a whole new level with fanciful details or practical features you never even thought of. We've brought together a list of some of the most unusual picnic tables that have hosted diners in parks near and far.

Picnic table see-saw for two

If you wanted to invoke memories of playground fun while eating your sandwich, then hop on one-half of the see-saw picnic table and find a partner for a counter-weight.

This picnic table incorporates a classic schoolyard fixture into a functional table at which to share a meal and company with a friend. You'll both be seated there till the meal is over, since weight is needed at either end of the see-saw to keep you both sitting level with the table.

So choose a picnic partner that won't leave you for the monkey-bars or the slide before you've finished your dessert.

What is an urban dweller supposed to do when the grass available for a picnic is limited? Or what if you just can't go all winter-long without a proper picnic? The picNYC table solves these problems with a real-life lawn growing atop its table.

You can stick with grass for a natural, picnic experience. Or plant other varieties of greenery to mix up the scenery. Either way, your picnic table is guaranteed to be green - and the closest thing to an indoor park experience you'll experience through the cold months of winter.

While you're busy snacking on grapes and cheese, engage your brain with a review of the periodic table of elements. Yes, the iconic chart from your high school science class has found its way onto a picnic table.

It will either spark a spirited conversation with your kids about the nature of protons and neutrons - or bring back memories of science lab experiments gone wrong. Either way, it will bring a new element to your picnic experience!

Picnic table with motor for those on the go. Photo by Jim Trottle

Lunch is a roller coaster ride with this loopy picnic table

If you love theme parks and roller coaster rides, then you'll appreciate the way this picnic table twists to imitate a classic roller coaster loop. At each end of this unique piece is a classic picnic table inviting you to sit and eat, without the fear of losing your lunch.

If you're bringing along the whole family for a picnic party, then this tree-inspired picnic table measuring 50 feet long will provide plenty of 'branches' for everyone to sit and dine together.

With a long 'trunk' lined by benches that gives way into several 'branches' that offer more seating, this picnic table is a beautiful integration of form and function.  It will seat all the members of your family tree - or invite you to branch out and make new friends.

Similar to the see-saw table mentioned earlier, this swinging table takes a playground classic and makes it practical for a picnic. It's perfect if you want outdoor seating, but the kids want a swing set.

You may not be able to swing too high or too fast, due to the table fixed in the center of this set, but you can still enjoy the breeze that an easy swing brings.

Customize a picnic table

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to create unique picnic tables is to order metal picnic tables and then have your own design laser-cut into the middle.

Those designs could be a team logo or a company brand. The great benefit of metal picnic tables is that these steel tables are super-durable and able to withstand a pounding from the elements.

Thermoplastic coated picnic tables are coated with rubberized plastic coatings that repel rain, snow, and ice. Mold or mildew cannot adhere to the surface. In addition, the polymers in the coating are resistant to harmful UV rays. This prevents fading and keeps the glossy luster of the table intact for many years.

One way to create unique picnic tables is to paint them following a popular theme

Another option with metal picnic tables is to order an expanded metal version. These perforated seats and backs have openings that prevent graffiti and spills from gathering. The holes also allow air to pass through to keep the metal cool. Even with an expanded metal picnic table, you can add a metal plate with a laser cut design or logo.

Another option is to order wood picnic tables and then paint your own designs on the tables. The City of West Palm Beach in Florida recently kicked off their "Summer in Paradise" program downtown by commissioning 26 local artists to paint a bunch of wood picnic tables.

The theme for the artwork was the famous Aesop's Fables fairy tale collection of books. This promotion was a big hit with the local population.

You may not find a see-saw picnic table, or feel the rush of sitting at a roller-coaster inspired table in your local park. You might not be able to quiz your kids on the periodic table as you sip lemonade, or swing with the breeze as you enjoy sandwiches. However, you can still enjoy National Picnic Month with a simple outing to your local park.

Some of the most popular picnic tables found in parks today are classic wood versions or thermoplastic-coated models that keep cool even on a hot summer day. Recycled plastic picnic tables are also growing in popularity for their eco-friendly properties and low-maintenance needs.

Wherever you choose to picnic, you'll able to enjoy fresh air, fine food, and good company! As long as you have a seat and a tabletop, you have a spot for an outdoor meal to remember. Find your nearest picnic table today and make the most of an outdoor dining experience with Mother Nature providing the decorations.

Metal picnic tables can be customized with a laser cut metal plate in the center

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