You’ve probably heard that a vegan diet is good for your heath. You’ve probably heard that it’s good for the planet. And you know that it’s good for the animals. These things are all true. However, you might not have heard one of my personal favorite things about being vegan: it’s an adventure.
I spent the past two weeks traveling on a sailboat through the San Juan islands in the Pacific Northwest. We started in Bellingham, Washington, sailed up through the islands as far north as Victoria, B.C, and headed back, taking our time as one does on a sailboat when there is no wind. We even got to see a massive pod of Orcas, swimming 75 deep up the coastline. A sight I won’t soon forget.
I prepared well for the trip. Being the only vegan in our party of 5, I knew that I might have to get creative, but hey, I welcome the opportunity. I brought plenty of snacks, cans on cans of pintos, and enough kombucha to (almost) sink a ship.
On our 5th night, we docked at a tiny little town on San Juan island called Friday Harbor. The rest of the group wanted to go out to dinner, so I figured I might as well whip out Happy Cow and see if there was a veggie-option restaurant somewhere in this town of less than 2,000 inhabitants. Well, to my udder surprise (pun intended. Also, sorry), there was a fully vegan, 5-star rated, showstopper of a restaurant called Mike’s Café and Wine Bar right next to the marina.
As I do anytime I see a surprise vegan restaurant in a new city, I contacted the owner and asked if I could swing by and take some photos of the restaurant and food for their use, pro-bono to help support them in all of their cruelty-free culinary crusades. Mike sent me a message back letting me know that I was free to come by anytime and he’d offer pizza on the house for me and my people. We arrived and met with his son who’s in charge of the kitchen in the evenings and he threw some seriously incredible vegan food our way, including their famous vampire pizza, sweet potato tacos, nut cheese platter, and a chocolate pie for dessert that would knock your socks right off. I had to roll myself out of that place and my carnist crew members were absolutely stunned by the flavors.
Being vegan often makes you feel ostracized from a society that can seem hesitant to change. We so frequently get asked questions about our dietary choices and are constantly brought into debate while trying to just enjoy a meal. It can make you feel like an outsider – you are now part of the one percent. However, you’ll start to find veganism in places where you least expect it and it’s a serious thrill when you do. From stumbling upon a large vegan chain restaurant in Seattle to a small, family run wine bar in Friday Harbor, every day searching for your fellow vegan brothers and sisters starts to become a challenge – no, an adventure. So get out there, do some exploring, and get some veggie goodness in that tummy.
I hope that we are soon living in a world where being vegan will feel ordinary. Where every news channel is raving about the latest black bean brownie recipe with aquafaba whipped topping. Where we feel less unique. Not because we aren’t unique, but because we were part of a movement that caused the world to follow us and we made it.
About the author: James is a full-time traveler and vegan restaurant photographer that offers free photo sponsorships to plant-based restaurants all around the world, helping them spread their cruelty-free crusade to the masses. James is currently on his second year of travel and is making his way through Europe as we speak. You can follow his adventures on Facebook and Instagram @theveganveggiebond.
