ivu.org — Vegetarian restaurant links around the world

Because you never know when — or where — the urge for soy will strike.

Paola Singer featured the website in a March 11, 2008 Wall Street Journal item, which follows.

Eating and Traveling Vegetarian

Problem: You have trouble finding good vegetarian dining options while traveling.

Solution: The International Vegetarian Union, a nonprofit organization that promotes vegetarianism, posts links to restaurant guides, associations and related news, in the U.S. and abroad. The group's site, ivu.org, offers information divided by continent and then by country. The site also includes a few recommendations for hotels and bed and breakfasts that cater to vegetarians.

Happycow.net has a thorough and frequently updated guide to vegetarian restaurants and health-food stores in major cities around the world. For travel within the U.S., VegOut guidebooks, published by Gibbs Smith, list and rate vegetarian restaurants in big cities like San Francisco, New York and Chicago. Lonely Planet city guides generally include vegetarian options in their restaurant sections.

Though not strictly for vegetarians, eatwellguide.org lists restaurants, farms and stores offering local, sustainable and organic food nationwide.

Travel agencies that cater to vegetarians, such as Green Earth Travel (vegtravel.com), help customers plan vacations that suit their interests, including vegetarian-friendly cruises, culinary trips and eco tours.