Veg-Friendly Norfolk

Located along the Chesapeake Bay and a short drive from the Atlantic Ocean, Norfolk, Va., is home to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the world's largest naval base. This diverse, coastal city has retained its historical charm while undergoing revitalization with an explosion of hip bars and locally owned restaurants. Transportation to the hot spots will only get greener, when construction on a light rail to be completed this year. Thanks to PETA's presence, the "v" word is omnipresent in this growing city.

Morning Scramble
The extensive vegan menu at Yorgo's Bageldashery may seem overwhelming at first, but relax—you can't go wrong here. Start with the vegan sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich on a fresh bagel or the breakfast burrito-hash browns, vegetarian chili, and tofu scramble wrapped up tight. Still hungry? Try a Chixett-salad sandwich or tempeh BLT, and be sure to snag a homemade vegan brownie or carrot-cake cookie for dessert.

Homegrown Reads
Bypass the big box booksellers and visit Prince Books, owned and managed by a Norfolk native since 1982. Catch an in store reading or scan the shelves for intelligent fiction, biographies, and current events. Once you have a new book in hand, relax at adjoining café, The Lizard, for a cup of locally roasted coffee and the Main Street Salad, made with locally grown, seasonal ingredients.

Party with PETA
Stop by the PETA offices to knock out your souvenir shopping—most of the items found in the PETA catalog are sold here, sans shipping charges. Stick around the waterfront office and get involved by preparing activist packets with stickers and literature. On Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30pm, stuffing envelopes becomes a reason to party and a chance to rub elbows with PETA staffers at the weekly volunteer shindig, complete with snacks.

Dinner & a Movie
Catch a film at the Naro theater, built in the 1930s and still a centerpiece of the historic Ghent neighborhood. After the show, grab a soy-cheese pizza at the laid-back Bella Pizzeria. If you're in the mood for something spicier in the same locality, head over to Rajput Indian Cuisine, which touts a separate vegan menu. Choose your degree of spiciness, but beware: If you opt for "Indian hot" you'll need a bottle of Taj Mahal beer to wash it down.

Trendy Tapas
Thanks to the low lighting and sleek design at Asian tapas restaurant Bardo, you'll feel relaxed even before your Dirty Zosia—a mix of bloodorange vodka and fresh berry purées—arrives. The capacious drink and food menus have plenty for the veggie set, including black sesameseared asparagus with lemon, beef, and broccoli and the fried eggplant topped with smoked-tomato coulis and salty olive mousse. Save room for a piece of the chef's signature vegan tiramisu.

Chess & Cappuccino
Located on the second floor of an old house, Elliot's Fair Grounds feels like a living room with cozy chairs, WiFi, and a stack of independent newspapers. While you play one of the board games at this fairtrade coffee shop, snack on a vegan cookie, hummus and pita plate, or the Heath Bar-a combination of espresso, flavored syrups, and soymilk.

Bike the Sights
After fueling yourself with a Boca burrito with vegan sour cream at Machismo, rent a bike and hit the Cannonball Trail. Winding along the edge of the Elizabeth River, the trail highlights spots significant to Norfolk's 300-year maritime history, including the battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest ships built by the US Navy. If you want to pass on pedaling, see the sights from the Victory Rover, which cruises up the river to Naval Station Norfolk.

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