Our vacations in Laval

You know me, I like simple things at a good price! So when Tourisme Laval suggested that we get to know her region through low-cost activities, I thought it was a great idea! I realized that we don't need to go to the other side of the world to experience magical moments and create beautiful, good memories as a family. The cost of living has gone up, and not everyone can afford a trip overseas. But we all need a vacation, and it's great to get away from it all and be at the heart of a family activity.

I was totally surprised and charmed by our getaway to Laval. As someone who now lives in the outback of the city, I was delighted to drop in on a bright and active city. During the holiday season, many families also took advantage of attraction passports offering 40% off! There's plenty of time to take advantage, on weekends and during Spring Break.

Day 1

The team at Tourisme Laval has set us a course with a schedule of activities.

We started our stay in Zone 15 !

We started with a game of indoor mini-golf on a fluorescent course. The music 🎶 kept us dancing. The atmosphere was great and even my 3-year-old Éléonore did the whole course with her adapted mini-stick offered on the spot. It was great!

Then, at 2pm 🕒, the first game of laser tag began. The aim of laser tag is to disable the jackets of opposing team members using Laser targets. In this game suitable for children aged 6 and over, you should have seen me go 😂👌🏻. I didn't think I was that competitive! My score was 22 on a board of 39 🙌🏻; the little mother was in her role as brooding mother 😂. I sincerely loved our experience. We'll definitely be going back for one of our children's birthdays or my birthday, because it's great with adults too! It's also a great experience to give as a gift.

3 p.m. 🕒 It was check-in time at our first hotel, the Holiday Inn Laval

The hotel is close to everything and was mostly occupied by families during our stay. The welcome is quick and warm, and the place is clean and cozy just the way I like it. A magnificent swimming pool is accessible and the sun shines in. Bring your bathing suit, gougounes and beach towels; you'll love making a saucette here, that's for sure. It's very relaxing.

5pm 🕔, the kids are hungry. I'm happy to hear that the kids eat FREE when they're hotel guests. Three less kids' meals on the bill, I can confirm that it shows on the final cost! Juice, lunch and a hearty dessert; they were spoiled and devoured everything at Chez Lionel. Chez Lionel restaurant (downstairs from the hotel). We can also eat there, even if we don't sleep at the hotel, as it's a restaurant open to all. To be honest with you folks, this is the most beautiful and chic restaurant I've ever been to in my life. I fell to the floor when I realized that the prices are comparable to those found in local rotisseries! Christian and I had braised beef (you absolutely must try it!). Quite simply, this is my new favorite restaurant, and we've promised ourselves that we'll be back with our families or lovers.

Yes, it's chic, but it's also family-friendly. I didn't feel bad being there with my restless kids at times. They made me feel comfortable and at ease. It was much appreciated. The service is seriously perfect, and you have to go there to try the homemade crème brûlée; it's just perfect!

7:30 pm 🕒 evening in Illumi. We chose the car option as Mom had forgotten the snow pants 🌨 and the kids were getting tired. I thought about skipping this activity, given that we'd been there last fall in Halloween time, but no, impossible! The kids saw the lights near the hotel and recognized the place. They absolutely wanted to go there. It's a must-see in Laval. It's magical and enchanting, and fills the heart with beautiful memories. Despite our frequent visits, each time we have a wonderful experience and come back with sparkling eyes.

Credit Marie-Ève Lanthier

9:30 pm 🕒, back to the room, shower and family cuddles before a nice sleep.

Day 2

8:40 a.m. 🕒, the kids never get up at this hour! The beds at the Holiday Inn, they are magical! Hihi!

We eat a snack in our room and then head for the pool! Brunch at Chez Lionel (restaurant attached to the hotel opens at 10 a.m.).

Credit Sarah Charron

The pool is superb and the children are playful and happy. I'm savoring this perfect moment, it feels so good. The pool is also perfect for them to burn off some energy!

11:30 a.m. 🕒, room picked up, hair dried, time for lunch at Chez Lionel. It was again absolutely delicious and it was free again for the kids with the hotel reservation 🙌🏻. Seriously, free makes all the difference. I'm freaking out!

Photo Credit Sarah Charron

2 p.m. 🕒, we meet at the bowling alley 🎳 BG Laval 2000

I never expected to have so much fun! It's a perfect activity for all ages. Popular music, neon lights, popcorn, animated screen, the kids really enjoyed it. You have to take a picture of yourself with a happy, sad or excited face, and when you play, you get an animation that goes according to your score! As usual, Dad won the game! Let's just say he's good at ball games and very competitive, haha! It's really suitable for everyone. We had a lot of FUN!!!

3:30 p.m. 🕒, check-in at our new hotel, the Hilton Laval

I walk in and my breath is taken away! It's breathtaking, families are in front of me, children laughing; they're happy to be from here too. I pinch myself, I don't realize I'm here right now! The place is grandiose. The maître d' greets me. He's very kind. He offers me the magnetic cards that give access to a VIP area ... you have to have a room card to enter this section of the hotel. It's ego-flattering, I love it! I ask how much such a room costs per night. For a suite with kitchen, it's the price of a room in Quebec City! I honestly expected a lot more. I love it!

It's big and spacious, and the kids have plenty of room to move around. I put stuff in the fridge. Life is good. It feels good to leave our responsibilities behind and live in the moment with my man and the kids.

Credit Lasting Motion

5 p.m. 🕒 time for supper. We head straight to the hotel, because tonight is the Laval Rocket game. The kids are excited, and so am I! We love field hockey. The restaurant Le Quartz, which is affiliated to the hotel, is beautiful and the waiters are friendly. There's a children's menu for $15, which I love! The adult menu is also affordable, with homemade pizza, seafood pasta and tender, flavorful meats. There's something for everyone. They make great cocktails and the alcoholic coffees are 👌🏻. The kids devoured their plates; the portions are generous and the meals are really adapted for them (not too spicy). I really recommend the shrimp starter and the seafood pasta 🦞! My boyfriend also loved the onion soup as a starter; it was succulent.

7 p.m. 🕒 it's time for the Rocket game at Place Bell. My son says, "Mom, this is the best night of my life! My daughters are singing at the top of their voices, and my husband (a former AA junior field hockey player here) is bright-eyed. I feel like a good mom and a good wife. I don't have the finances to take my three kids to a Montreal Canadiens game, but I think it's a great experience to offer our families to come and encourage the next generation and come to Laval to see the Rocket play! Tickets cost between $15 and $50. I swear the atmosphere is extraordinary in this 10,000-seat amphitheatre! The Rocket won 6-3. It was an emotional match! There's plenty of parking, both indoor and outdoor, and it was easy to find. Our seats were next to one of the players' grandpas. How proud he was to see his grandson score a goal. It reminded me of my brother playing field hockey. I was so proud of him. The on-site DJ is also excellent and the host was great. There's a lot of interaction with the crowd, so it was a real E-X-T-R-A experience!

21:45 🕒 back to the room, snack and dodo in our wonderful cozy Hilton beds, to be in shape for our last day tomorrow. The kids slept well, we were so good. The suite was perfect for our family.

Day 3

7 a.m. 🕒, troop up. We had breakfast in the bedroom. I ordered two adult breakfasts, which we shared. Dad was happy to drink a nice coffee ☕️ in bed. The children listened to the good guys on TV while I collected the suitcases. It was with sadness that we left the comfortable Hilton hotel. This hotel has a nice pool too, but we didn't have time for a dip. We'll definitely be back one day!

9 a.m. 🕒, we have an appointment at Clip 'n climbthe dream place for young and old climbers alike 🧗‍♂️. The kids were thrilled to discover an indoor climbing center. It was our first experience. It's the perfect place where you push your limits and use both your brains 🧠 and your muscles 💪🏻 to climb a section of climbing wall. There are several levels and different heights. Even Éléonore took part! The kids were so proud! I really recommend this place. The experienced instructors are very friendly and encourage the kids to excel. I really liked the energy there.

10:45 a.m. 🕒, direction Escaparium - Bernie Bloc

It's an escape game for families. In a LEGO-block-style setting, you have to work as a team to solve the puzzles. We loved it! Doors that open when you succeed, hidden treasures, clues everywhere to discover - it was fantastic! The hour passed too quickly. We wished it could have gone on and on, so much so that we were in the role of helping Bernie! There are also adult levels with other themes where you can go as a group. It's great for birthday parties or school groups. What's more, it's perfect for bonding, for sports teams or work colleagues, for example. You have no choice but to work as a team and communicate. I felt a bit like Big Brother finding clues. I A-D-O-R-E.

We ended the escapade at the Centre d'interprétation de l'eau 💦 de Laval (C.I.EAU). You know me, I love to play and have fun, but I also like to teach my kids where things come from. Through this activity, they discovered that water isn't at will and that in some places on Earth, it wasn't as abundant as it is here. It was very interesting to understand ♻️ how the City of Laval provides water to its citizens. I learned a lot myself as an adult during this educational activity. I really recommend it.

Before concluding my summary of this incredible adventure and our extraordinary little vacation, I'd like to make a special mention of Chez Lionel. It's definitely my new favorite restaurant! Christian and I will soon be celebrating our ^10th anniversary as a couple, and we want to go back together. I want to go there for my birthday in July, too, to introduce our whole family to this wonderful restaurant. It's a wonderful restaurant with a varied menu of meals at affordable prices. Children are welcome and they loved the meal. The fish and French fries as well as the ravioli on the children's menu are delicious! We ate at the restaurant in Laval, but there's also a Chez Lionel restaurant in Boucherville and also in Sainte-Thérèse, if that's closer to where you live. Worth the detour!

The experiences were received and donated by all the generous partners we've mentioned. My experience and comments are my own. No one has forced me to say or express an opinion that is not my own. I recommend all the destinations I have mentioned. We have sincerely and honestly had great experiences in every place. If we hadn't, I simply wouldn't have mentioned them. Take time out with your family to enjoy great experiences. There are still accessible activities to do nearby. I wanted to show you that it's possible to do it in Laval, and give you a bank of ideas for doing it!

Enjoy your trip!

Sarah