14 Ideas That Will Change Your Spring Break
Spring Break is around the corner—what’s on your bucket list? Wherever you go and whatever you do, don’t forget to be kind to animals! Check out our ultimate bucket list for your animal-friendly adventure.
1. Take a Vegan Food Tour
Check out the vegan food scene while traveling. Happy Cow is a fantastic resource for finding new vegan fare. If you’re not traveling, plan a DIY vegan food crawl in your own city.
On today’s farms, animals used for food will never raise their families, root in the soil, build nests, or do anything natural and important to them. When you’re vegan—and encourage others to do the same—you refuse to bankroll this suffering.
2. Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Skip exploitative roadside zoos and marine parks. Instead, visit a state or national park, a nature reserve, or a local hiking trail and bring a list of things to find. Take a friend or the kiddos to see who can check off their list the fastest while remaining respectful of animals in their homes.
3. Volunteer at a Legitimate Animal Sanctuary
Every little bit helps when it comes to volunteering! Just be careful: many cruel roadside zoos and breeding facilities market their animal prisons as “sanctuaries” or “rescues.” Check our page, “How to Tell if a Place is a REAL Sanctuary.”
4. Kayak, Paddleboard, or Snorkel (Respectfully!)
When enjoying the water, stay in designated areas that won’t disturb animals’ homes. Also, avoid swim-with-dolphin experiences, as dolphins should be swimming free.
5. Plan an Eco-Friendly Beach Day
Enjoy the sand and sun without leaving a trace. Pack reusable water bottles, vegan snacks, and a trash bag to clean up after yourself and any other garbage that you may find. And stay safe from the sun’s rays with vegan sunscreens. Check out our “Our Favorite Vegan, Cruelty-Free Sunscreens” blog for tips on which ones to buy.
6. Vegan S’mores on a Camping Trip
Tell ghost stories or play guitar around a campfire and grab some vegan snacks. For vegan s’mores, swap out marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for their vegan upgrades. For a recipe, check out “How To Make The Best Vegan S’mores.”
The gelatin in marshmallows is made from animals’ skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones in water. But marshmallows like Dandies are vegan.
7. Visit a Vegan-Friendly City
Cities like Portland, Los Angeles, and Berlin have thriving vegan scenes. But if these cities don’t appeal, most cities have vegan options due to rising demand.
Workers cram animals into tiny spaces on farms, deny them natural behaviors, and treat them like commodities. When we request vegan while traveling, we tell companies that folks want animal-friendly options.
8. Visit a Local Farmer’s Market or U-Pick Farm
Research your area and plan a day at a farmer’s market or a U-pick farm. According to Doctor’s Health Press, foods like wild leeks, spring garlic, snap peas, and asparagus are in season. Vegan foods like these are packed with nutrients and flavor—making them a must-have for any home cook.
9. Take an E-Bike or Pedicab
Rent an e-bike or pedicab to go sightseeing in a city. This is a great way to explore new places. Remember: Never take a horse-drawn carriage ride.
The horse-drawn carriage industry deprives horses of everything natural and important to them, like socializing with other horses, grazing in fields, and running free.
10. Go (Ethically) Thrifting
Thrift stores are goldmines for animal-friendly apparel, offering a wide variety of styles—without the environmental and ethical costs of fast fashion.
Here is our quick and easy guide to help you identify the cruel materials in your closet so you can purchase vegan clothing and accessories the next time you shop.
11. Have an Animal Defender Documentary Marathon
Many movies and TV series about animals and vegan living exist on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime Video, and other streaming services. You could host viewing parties with friends and family at your place. And if it’s nice outside, and you have a yard, why not project the movie onto your garage door?
Check out our piece, “These Movies Could Change Your Life.” For younger audiences, visit our blog, “Top Animal Rights Movies to Show in Class.”
12. Start a Backyard Pollinator Garden
Research native plants in your area and start planning a pollinator garden in your backyard. Native plants make great food sources and habitats for small animals.
13. Make DIY Animal Companion Treats
Dog chews sold at grocery stores often contain the body parts of cows, pigs, and other animals. But you can easily make them using sweet potatoes, carrots, peanut butter, or oats for a tasty vegan treat. Check out our recipe, “Homemade Carrot, Date, and Oatmeal Vegan Dog Treats.”
14. Have a Self-Care Spa Day With Cruelty-Free Products
A relaxing soak in the tub, a fresh manicure, and a face scrub can be a wonderful way to spend a day of Spring Break. But when planning a spa day, choose products that are good for animals and your skin. Cruelty-free bath salts, scrubs, bubbles, and more will help you create a luxurious vegan spa experience at home.
With these animal-friendly ideas on your Spring Break Bucket list, we hope you have a happy, safe, fun, relaxing Spring Break!
