Laval for the Whole Family

Tucked away about a half-hour drive from Montréal proper is the small town of Laval. Heavily geared toward family and business travelers, Laval provides a charm totally unique from the Laurentian Mountains to the north and Montréal to the south.

To someone passing through, Laval might not seem to have the same drawing power as the regions north and south, but the unassuming town has something for everyone, ranging from young kids to nature enthusiasts and spanning adventure and delicious food.

Laval is an island about three-fifths the size of Montréal. The Prairies River borders it to the south. On the north, the Riviére des Mille Îlles borders the island and the two come together to form the St. Lawrence River before and after Laval.

On the island itself, Laval describes itself as “naturally urban.” The city is primed with hotels specializing in meetings and conventions, as well as hotels focused on creating a residential experience complete with shopping areas in the lobby focused on local goods. Looking past the accommodation options, it is crucial to take into account the amount of wildlife reserves and nature surrounding Laval’s business-centric aesthetic.

The first stop for families in love with nature should be the Parc Riviére des Mille Îlles. There is a ton to do here outside, from looking to observe animals in their natural habitat to hiking riverside trails. The park also houses the new Exploration Center. The building features a permanent exhibit educating visitors about the merits of the river and a number of educational ambassador animals to help teach children about the indigenous species and researchers conduct research to benefit the animals and region. The park is also a great place for visitors to go ice fishing and otherwise begin to appreciate the nature of the island.

If your group is more a fan of active sports, the Nature Center is a great choice as well. The center spans 50 hectares and features facilities for canoeing, kayaking, skating, skiing and more, depending on the season. There are also more than five kilometers of hiking trails for adventure seekers. The entirety of Laval is packed with hiking trails, making it an excellent destination for families who enjoy connecting with the outdoors.

No matter how much you love the outdoors, there is only so much time you can spend there, especially if you have small children with you. You need to eat sometime, which is why you should be aware of the delicious L’Antre-Nous, Creperie Bistro. This restaurant is open during breakfast, lunch and dinner and serves up authentic sweet and savory crepes.  If crepes aren’t to your liking, there are plenty of other restaurants in the vicinity, including Café Ricardo, with an ever-changing menu from renowned chef Ricardo Larrivée; La Belle et La Boeuf, which serves casual burgers and beer; and Maison du Jazz, which serves Louisiana-style chicken, ribs and seafood.

Laval is perfect for family-friendly attractions. Businesses like SkyVenture cater to the entire family and work to give the family a once-in-a-lifetime experience. SkyVenture gives kids as young as 4 the chance to experience skydiving without needing to jump from an actual plane.  A SkyVenture coach will teach the entire family the hand signals they need to be successful in the jump tube and then go in with each member to make sure no one gets hurt. This seems intimidating, but even for total beginners is a ton of fun.

Maeva Surf is similar in it distills a wild experience down to an easily digestible adventure by giving total beginners a chance to experience surfing. Laval is packed with experiences like this, including an escape game, indoor trampoline park and miniature golf center.

At the end of the day, though, it is impossible to talk about a trip to Québec without talking about winter activities. Laval en Blanc is a famous winter festival filled with winter sports and activities, fun shows and plenty of other festivities. The festival runs every year for roughly one month during January.

In addition to the exclusive winter festivities, many new activities open up in winter. From ice fishing to dogsledding, it is a whole new world in Laval’s wintertime. Like all of the activities mentioned before, dogsledding and ice fishing are two activities that anyone can do with a little instruction.

Whether you are visiting Laval as a primary destination, you are staying for work or bringing your family through to the Laurentian Mountains, you will find no shortage of activities to keep the family occupied.