Vegan in Orange County

Orange County is home to Fashion Island, real housewives, and Disneyland. Even with a culture rooted in affluence, fantasy, and instant gratification, this destination still has veg-friendly eats, environmentally responsible businesses, and some of California’s most pristine landscape.

This wide county requires a survey in road-trip form—starting inland and venturing out to the coast. You’ll be flying into John Wayne Airport, of course. So be sure to check out the film icon’s caught-in-mid-cowboy-swagger statue—this bizarre homage assures you that you have, in fact, arrived in conservative Orange County.

Rent a hybrid and take a 10-minute drive to The Camp—a little oasis in Costa Mesa. It’s designed to feel like a retreat, with stores disguised as cabins and one restaurant housed in a yurt (a tent-like structure). This is the all-vegan Native Foods, of noted Save-the-Chicken-Wings fame. Try the Peanut Butter Parfait for the perfect sweet treat on a warm Southern Californian day.

Literally a few steps away is Humanitaire, a cruelty-free store with vegan shoes, belts, and all accessories in between. If you’re itching to do some more shopping, head across the street to The Lab, the hipster’s answer to South Coast Plaza (that huge affront to living-within-one’s-means that you passed when exiting the 405).

Ready to get back to nature after gathering those urban acquisitions? Take the 405 South to the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. It’s the perfect contrast to Irvine’s cookie-cutter business centers and wide, Hummer-friendly roadways. This preserved bit of swampland is ripe for bird watching. Ignore—or enjoy—the irony of the cityscape that looms in the background as you desperately try to identify the more than 200 bird species known to inhabit the park.

Hungry again, already? There are two Veggie Grill locations in Irvine, so take your pick and sample this vegan chain’s incredible sweet-potato fries with dairy-free, chipotle-ranch dipping sauce. If your hunger just won’t quit, load up on specialty snacks at Mother’s Market Kitchen and head toward the famous Pacific Coast Highway for a scenic ocean-side drive to Laguna Beach.

Now you’re in one of the epicenters of affluence and consumerism, but herein lies one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Laguna Beach has an active arts scene—it’s home to the Pageant of the Masters, a “living pictures” event that recreates famous works of art—so be sure to peruse galleries and thoroughly enjoy the artists’ hard work.

After you experience the city’s nightlife, hit up Taco Loco on Pacific Coast Highway and enjoy a late-night Corona and indulge in faux-fish tacos or nachos on the colorful Paul Frank bar stools outside. Here you can ponder the validity of the OC’s superficial reputation, or decide that it just doesn’t matter because there’s a cool ocean breeze on your face and plenty more vegan options to try tomorrow.