Food & Drink, Home & Garden
7 Patio Essentials to Make Outdoor Entertaining a Breeze
Summer is officially here, and that means it’s outdoor entertaining season. To kick things off, I’ve pulled together my favorite patio essentials to make entertaining your guests a breeze. Once you have these essentials, you can continue to add to your collection. The best part? They’re all available with Cash Back from Rakuten.
A portable cooler
If you’re going to entertain outdoors, you have to have to invest in a good cooler. By good, I mean something reliable, sturdy and affordable. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars to keep your favorite drinks cold. Coleman has been making quality options for years. Take this transportable, 62-quart cooler for example. It holds up to 95 cans and can double as extra outdoor seating if you need it. I have a similar model, and it’s never let me down.
A sturdy outdoor umbrella
Fun in the sun is only fun if you have some shade to retreat to during the day. That’s why you should invest in an outdoor umbrella. This option allows you to adjust the height and direction of the umbrella in multiple ways, so it’s built to handle any backyard entertaining situation.
A set of drink stakes
These drink stakes are a must for any outdoor gathering and certainly qualify as patio essentials. They’re affordable, practical and versatile. Just what you need for outdoor entertaining. We use them around the bonfire, at the beach, for outdoor games like cornhole and much more.
Outdoor games
Speaking of outdoor games, this 2-in-1 set is perfect for entertaining your guests all summer long. It transforms from a tournament bag toss set to a washer toss, which is similar to horseshoes. Everyone will appreciate the variety. Washer toss is surprisingly difficult to master.
Lava stone grilling tray
You could serve your barbecue on a boring platter or you could serve it on this lava stone. Basically, it’s a stone you can heat and use for cooking or finishing foods like steak, veggies and more. It also comes with three serving bowls for any dipping sauces or sides for your guests. I suggest searing off some steaks and then letting everyone cook the meat to their favorite temperature.
A well-made fire pit
When the sun goes down and you want to keep the party going, a fire pit is essential. This one is fully enclosed on the bottom to keep ash and debris off your patio. Just be sure to keep it far away from your home or any structures. We keep the essentials for s’mores on hand at all times because you never know when you’ll need to prep some late-night treats.
A mosquito repeller
Nothing ruins outdoor fun like mosquitos. And these days, there’s even more reason to keep them away with Zika popping up across the country. Protect your family and your guests with the Thermacell mosquito repeller. Simply turn on the device and it creates a barrier of protection around your space.
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