To Explore or to Unwind? The Ultimate Plant-Based Travel Debate

While dedicated vegan resorts are springing up around the world, they still aren’t everywhere. This leaves plant-based travelers with a frustrating dilemma. For instance, I’ve been dying to visit Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, but the closest vegan hotel is a two-and-a-half-hour drive away. IUltimately, it feels like we have two choices: limit our travel to a few vegan-friendly bubbles, or compromise and figure out how to navigate regular menus wherever we go.

Take Jefferson, Texas, for example. I absolutely adore its historic charm—and because it’s famously haunted, it is entirely my jam. But finding a single vegan option in the entire city? Nearly impossible.

So, what’s a plant-based traveler to do? For me, the destination always comes first. I refuse to miss out on rich history, art, and culture just because of a limited menu. If that means making do with a basic side salad or hitting up the local Burger King or Taco Bell drive-thru, so be it.

Of course, I always do my homework. I scope out HappyCow and Google before every trip, but even the best-laid plans can fall through. While I managed to score incredible, pre-reserved vegan meals in Rome and Civitavecchia, my trip to Spain was a different story—several “confirmed” spots on HappyCow had already closed or changed their menus.

Navigating the U.S. on a road trip is usually manageable, but a cruise introduces a completely different set of challenges. First, there’s the ship itself, where the designated vegan menus can often be a bit questionable. Then come the port days: with only a tight window of a few hours to find something edible on shore, your entire excursion can easily be swallowed up by the hunt for food.

Ultimately, it’s up to each traveler. I wish the world were different. But until it is, I am the Traveling Veganista. Maybe someday that will be the norm instead of the exception.