Animal Friendly Vacations
Planning an animal-friendly vacation is easy. You can find out where the veg restaurants are ahead of time, or else you can wing it and just plan to eat at dependable veg-friendly restaurants such as Asian, Middle-eastern, Mexican, and Indian. Carry veg snacks (granola bars, fruit, pretzels, hummus, chips, etc.) so your little ones will never go hungry. Search online for veg-friendly accommodations. If you have limited time to research, consider booking with one of the animal-friendly travel companies listed below. They can help you plan all the details!
An animal-friendly vacation means avoiding places where animals are exploited for entertainment purposes. Don't buy a ticket to the circus where miserable animals are forced through violent methods to do ridiculous and often painful tricks day in and day out for crowds. Don't go to bullfights or rodeos where terrified, confused animals are roped, gouged and tortured for "sport." Don't visit zoos or aquariums where lonely, bored animals are confined in small enclosures and denied their freedom. Don't swim with dolphins: contrary to popular belief they are not smiling and they do not enjoy swimming with you. Don't get your picture taken with wild baby animals (no matter how cute they are), they are wild animals who don't belong at the end of a leash being dragged around for photos ops. Don't support horse racing or greyhound racing. Use your common sense and think about it from their perspective. Ask yourself: Are they in their natural environment? Are they free to come and go as they please? Are they with their family? Are they forced to do anything? Are people making money off of them? Many of the animals in these venues are screamed at (or ignored), hit, kicked, whipped, beaten with bullhooks, sticks, ropes, starved, and electrically shocked. When they're not performing, most are relegated to filthy, tiny cages, or shackled to a pole. Remember, each dollar you spend on an activity is a vote, so vote consciously and compassionately for animals, not against them. Teach your children to do the same.
Happy and... compassionate travels!
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An animal-friendly vacation means avoiding places where animals are exploited for entertainment purposes. Don't buy a ticket to the circus where miserable animals are forced through violent methods to do ridiculous and often painful tricks day in and day out for crowds. Don't go to bullfights or rodeos where terrified, confused animals are roped, gouged and tortured for "sport." Don't visit zoos or aquariums where lonely, bored animals are confined in small enclosures and denied their freedom. Don't swim with dolphins: contrary to popular belief they are not smiling and they do not enjoy swimming with you. Don't get your picture taken with wild baby animals (no matter how cute they are), they are wild animals who don't belong at the end of a leash being dragged around for photos ops. Don't support horse racing or greyhound racing. Use your common sense and think about it from their perspective. Ask yourself: Are they in their natural environment? Are they free to come and go as they please? Are they with their family? Are they forced to do anything? Are people making money off of them? Many of the animals in these venues are screamed at (or ignored), hit, kicked, whipped, beaten with bullhooks, sticks, ropes, starved, and electrically shocked. When they're not performing, most are relegated to filthy, tiny cages, or shackled to a pole. Remember, each dollar you spend on an activity is a vote, so vote consciously and compassionately for animals, not against them. Teach your children to do the same.
Happy and... compassionate travels!
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Humane Alternatives to Seeing AnimalsTake a nature walk in your backyard.
Go birdwatching. Go on a whale watch. Visit an animal sanctuary. Go on a safari. Hike in a National Park. Volunteer helping animals locally (shelter, etc.). Research animal migration routes and plan your trip accordingly so you can see whales and other animals in their natural environment (without interrupting the animals of course). Your family will appreciate this much more than seeing a trained dolphin jump through a hoop in a tiny concrete pool at SeaWorld. 
ArticlesTraveling with Vegan Children by Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.
Reader's Tips: Vegetarian Restaurants by the Guardian Vegans Abroad! Twelve Tips for the Traveling Vegan Family by Ginger Carlson How to Travel the World as a Vegan E-book. Vegan Family Safaris by Liz Longacre Vegan Travel Blogs(For parents to research before taking their kids abroad)
Vegan World Trekker ... Info on vegan dining worldwide, airport/airline food options, vegan travel guides, vegan accommodations and trips, vegan clothing, vegan travel gear, photos, and a travel blog. Vegan Backpacker ... Jill and John are two vegans from Canada who are eating their way around the world. Their website offers tips and pictures to help other vegan explorers. Traveling Vegan ... Tales of a vegan man traveling slowly around the world, a few months in every country. Vegan Travel Forum ... Guide for traveling vegans includes where to find vegan food in a foreign city, reviews of vegan and vegetarian restaurants that offer vegan dishes, vegan friendly hotels and more. |
Veg HotelsLooking for a veg-friendly hotel, bed & breakfast, eco-lodge or resort in the U.S? Need suggestions for abroad, click HERE and HERE.
Here are two of my personal favorites: Black Sheep Inn in Ecuador Lands in Love in Costa Rica Veg Restaurant SearchHappyCow.net
VegGuide.org VegDining.com Mobile phone veg restaurant apps: HappyCow VeganXpress Veggie Passport VegOut Need help ordering vegan food in another country? SelectWisely- sells flashcards in 24 different languages that you can show your waiter. Vegan Passport- a passport sized travelling companion that comes in 73 languages, which includes a detailed page explaining what vegans can and can't eat. Veg Travel Companies |
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KUDOS to Arthur Frommer- travel writer, publisher and founder of the popular Frommer's series of travel guides and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine- for pulling the recommendation of SeaWorld out of his books. Due to animal welfare concerns, Frommer will no longer recommend SeaWorld in any of his publications.
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KUDOS to Arthur Frommer- travel writer, publisher and founder of the popular Frommer's series of travel guides and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine- for pulling the recommendation of SeaWorld out of his books. Due to animal welfare concerns, Frommer will no longer recommend SeaWorld in any of his publications.
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Animal Friendly Travel Company
Your Time Travels is a unique travel company specifically for animal lovers. Whether you want to volunteer abroad with animal welfare projects (while mixing in sightseeing, adventure and cultural activities and hotel stays), observe animals in their natural habitats through safari adventures, enjoy vegetarian/vegan resorts, or visit animal sanctuaries, they can help you plan it all! Check out their kid-friendly itineraries.
Read Your Time Travels exclusive guest post just for us!
Read Your Time Travels exclusive guest post just for us!