Laval: Exciting outdoor and indoor adventures the whole family can enjoy this winter
Looking for an urban destination where you can experience everything from indoor rockclimbing to gourmet dining to snowshoeing in the forest? Head to the island of Laval, a unique familyfriendly playground offering dozens of fabulous attractions, all within a 20-km range.
ENJOY OUTDOOR WINTER FUN
Plan to spend an invigorating day at the Centre de la nature de Laval, which has 50 hectares of space to explore every winter activity your family desires – skate on the lake, which is beautifully lit up at night, go cross-country skiing on five kilometers of looped trails, grab a toboggan or a tube to slide down five different slopes, take a brisk hike or explore the snow park with young children who want to learn how to downhill ski. This stunning location also hosts the Laval Christmas Market each year, where you can pick up one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts and affordable products. And when the sun sets, enjoy a magical evening adventure with Illumi – A Dazzling World of Lights, where you can walk or drive through a three-kilometre path featuring 19 vibrant, festive scenes enhanced by more than 30,000 light structures dotted with 25 million lights.
FIND FUN INDOORS, TOO
Thanks to the wide range of activities in Laval, families can keep busy all day. Get your adrenaline pumping with a visit to Clip ‘n Climb, which has 30 different climbing walls – the highest at 10 metres – or take the family to new heights at ifly. You won’t want to miss Cosmodome, Canada’s only museum dedicated to space sciences, which features four exciting missions plus exciting astronaut simulators. Or, test your speed skills at Action 500, which boasts the longest indoor go-karting track in Canada. Mystery lovers will enjoy Laval’s escape room facilities, including Escaparium Laval and Immersia Jeux d’évasion, where you’ll work in teams to carry out your mission. Or challenge each other during a game of laser tag or check out the Aérosim experience, where you can face off in an F-16 battle just like in the movie Top Gun. Children and their parents will love all the fun scientific and cultural activities while discovering the Musée de la santé Armandfrappier’s new premises, adjacent to the Cosmodome. Known for its innovative programming that includes exhibits and tours, the museum also offers handson laboratory workshops where participants wear lab coats and use specialized equipment to explore the wonders of health-related science.
INDULGE YOUR TASTE BUDS
After an active day of exploring, Laval’s culinary scene gives foodies a dazzling choice of gourmet delights. Thanks to its large agrifood sector, the city’s farm-tofork offerings have helped attract many visitors to the area. Some restaurants to try include Le Mitoyen, where acclaimed chef/ owner Richard Bastien has been serving exquisitely prepared French dishes with locally sourced ingredients out of a lovely ancestral home since 1977. Or enjoy Mediterranean-inspired fare at Calvi, located in the bustling Centropolis square, where you can then enjoy entertainment, shopping or a stroll along the pedestrian walkways.
If you prefer to grab and go on a busy day, stop into Laval’s public market, Marché public 440, where you will find 20 gourmet food stores including a cheese shop, bakery, fruit store and chocolate shop. Or, stop into Gatto Matto in downtown Laval for a revolutionary, avantgarde Art Deco concept that fuses Chicago and Italian cuisine. It even has a flower bar theme.
MANY LODGING OPTIONS
For a good night’s sleep, choose from several new or newly renovated properties in Laval for an unforgettable stay. After a twoyear, $20 million redesign, the Sheraton Laval by Marriott and its convention centre welcomes guests to its luxurious hotel, located just 20 minutes from downtown Montreal. It features the new La Spesa gourmet centre where you can grab coffee, pastries or a sandwich. Sample Mediterranean and Italian dishes at La Piazza or enjoy cocktail hour at Bar La Cuppola. The hotel is also home to an Amerispa centre where you can book a thermotherapy session and unwind in the sauna and whirlpool or treat yourself to a relaxing massage or facial.
Looking for an upscale boutique hotel with its own kitchen where you can keep your kids full of snacks during your stay? Check into the Grand Times Hotel, which has rooms with microwaves and refrigerators, or the Hilton Montreal/laval, which has
apartment suites that feature full kitchens, plus self-service laundry for extended stays.
Laval will also see the new $45 million Marriott Courtyard Laval which opens in spring 2023. Connected to Montreal’s underground network through the Montmorency metro station, the property will feature 188 rooms
on 10 floors, plus a restaurant, lounge bar and rooftop terrace with gorgeous city views. It will offer easy access to entertainment centres, shopping malls and dozens of restaurants.
No matter how your family likes to have fun, you’ll find it in Laval!