Since 1999, HappyCow.net has been helping vegans and vegetarians to find plant-based fare while on the road. But with access to the world wide web in the palms of our hands, now it’s even easier. For vegans who are traveling both locally and abroad, the HappyCow app is essential for finding the best vegan options in an area.
While it’s possible to find vegan food anywhere, some places are admittedly trickier than others. The HappyCow app locates where you are and then shows restaurants, stores, and grocery stores close to you. Planning a trip? You can also sort by address or zip code. You can then sort by type of cuisine, and whether it’s a non-vegetarian, vegetarian, or vegan restaurant.
It’s incredibly useful when in a new city, and it’s a great way to discover some hidden gems in your own area. It’s also easy to see at a glance if a restaurant has the price point, quality of reviews, and hours that work for you. If you find a restaurant you like, you can add it as a favorite for easy access later.
If you’re taking a cross country road trip, at any point along the way you can see what’s available just off the highway by opening the app. In fact, often when I’m traveling the first thing that I do after checking into the hotel is to see what’s available nearby. (Don’t have access to a smart phone? Check out their website instead for reviews, a forum for chatting, and a blog.)
The app and website are community-based. So if you know of a terrific vegan option in your area or discover one on your travels, listings can be added to HappyCow using their online form. Taking that extra step to add vegan or vegetarian options is a great service and a way of helping out other vegan and vegetarian travelers, especially if the area is not super vegan-friendly. While you’re there, take a moment to review restaurants and upload pictures. Somewhere down the line, another vegan traveler will thank you for it!
Image credit: Photo by David Busch