America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Small Cities

#1 Asheville, North Carolina

Like your vegetarian fare served with fresh, clean mountain air? Then awesome little Asheville is the place for you. Nestled between two mountain ranges, Asheville is an open-minded mecca for eclectic and artistic people who are active in all creative avenues. Luckily, Asheville is as humane as it is hip, with a huge assortment of vegetarian-friendly restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and markets.

The Laughing Seed is the perfect place for upscale dining in a relaxed atmosphere. It was voted "Best Vegetarian Restaurant" in Western North Carolina eight years running by readers of both the Asheville Citizen Times and Mountain Xpress. If you're hankering for heaping helpings of homestyle food, look no further than Rosetta's Kitchen. With an almost-all-vegan menu, this funky eclectic joint is open 'til 3 a.m., so you'll never have to go hungry. We're addicted to Rosetta's vegan blueberry pancakes, fried peanut-butter tofu, and smashed potatoes. Barley's Taproom features soy-cheese pizza, jerk-tofu sandwiches, a veggie burger, and an excellent black-bean hummus. For a unique dining experience, take in a movie while you enjoy your beer and nondairy cheese pizza at the Asheville Pizza Company. Or try the Mellow Mushroom, where you'll find a great selection of beer, soy-cheese pizzas, tempeh, and tofu sandwiches.

If you need a nap after eating so much delicious vegetarian fare, then rest your weary head at the Beaufort House. Voted the number one bed-and-breakfast in Western North Carolina by readers of Mountain Xpress, this beautiful Victorian home is set on 2 acres of lush landscape and is just minutes from downtown Asheville. Owners Jacqueline and Robert Glasgow will gladly whip up a scrumptious vegan breakfast, with prior notice. Because you'd rather meet animals than eat them, visit the Animal Haven, a sanctuary for rescued farmed animals. Call ahead and you'll be able to greet goats, hang out with hens, and pet a pig or two.

If you scream for nondairy ice cream, at least two ice cream shops—The Hop, near the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and Sweet Heaven on historic Montford Avenue—offer soy ice cream and/or rice ice cream. And for sinfully tasty vegan baked goods, head to City Bakery on Charlotte Street, West End Bakery, or Earth Fare, the bustling health-food supermarket located in the Westgate Shopping Center. Earth Fare also offers vegetarian and vegan hot-food options, as well as the best salad bar around. There are so many great vegetarian options in Asheville, it's no wonder that Self magazine named Asheville the happiest city in America. For more info on Asheville’s vegetarian scene, visit AshevilleVeg.org.

Top Tip: Want a sweet treat after a day full of Asheville adventures? Then indulge in some Tree Huggin' Treats, Asheville's own vegan delights. The chocolate-coconut Peppermint Phatty is dangerously addictive. Won't be near Asheville in the near future? Don't fret—Tree Huggin' Treats are available in stores nationwide, or you can order online.

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