What to Do in Laval During the Holidays?

Isabelle Marjorie Tremblay
Author, host, and columnist

A public figure who has been active in the media for nearly 20 years, Isabelle Marjorie Tremblay is a television host and columnist on just about every network. A tireless explorer of distant lands who also loves to explore Quebec for her getaways, she is invited to share her discoveries in all major media outlets, both print and television.  She also takes on assignments as a journalist, screenwriter, researcher, travel guide writer, content producer, and event host. She is the mother of two little ones who follow her almost everywhere: Sofia and Lukas.

Have fun climbing—it's easy!

Although we went to Clip ’n Climb four times already, the kids want to go back… and so do I! It’s an indoor climbing center with 34 walls, making the sport accessible and 100% safe. What do I like about it? The simplicity of the automatic belay system. Once you’re at the top of a wall, you just let yourself fall backward as the rope locks in place and allows for a smooth descent.  No one has to wait at the bottom of the wall, which is perfect for my impatient 6- and 10-year-olds. I really loved the moment when Sofia and I were climbing simultaneously, face to face, on either side of the same wall, only to meet at the top, standing opposite each other, proud and smiling! Meanwhile, little Lukas was climbing a curved wall inside an illuminated cylinder, cheered on by the on-site instructors. Fun guaranteed for everyone.

An indoor entertainment center that kids always want to go back to!

Arm yourself with a wide range of arguments to successfully get your kids to leave Funtropolis after a few hours of wild fun! I first went to this indoor amusement center with my two kids for a field trip. Since there’s Wi-Fi, I figured I’d be able to get some work done! That turned out to be an excellent idea… with my headphones on, just to block out the cheerful hubbub around me. That afternoon, Lukas played a lot in the ball gun room, and Sofia was very busy on the slide structures! The kids also really loved the dark room with the laser beams they had to dodge. And guess where Lukas wanted to celebrate his 7th birthday with his seven best friends in the whole world?

An extraordinary high-tech experience that makes learning to fly a real pleasure… for real!

It’s now possible to fly Boeing 737s or F-16s while staying right here in… Laval. Aerosim Expérience offers an immersive flying experience aboard high-tech simulators—the same ones used by pilots in training. My kids loved it… and, I have to admit, so did Dad. The atmosphere is so true to life that you really feel like you’re in the middle of a flight! I was impressed flying over Montreal and then New York (the quality of the 200-degree screens is exceptional), and Lukas managed—after several attempts—to shake off the enemy aboard his F-16! On-site, training with a professional flight instructor is required, which helps you handle the aircraft controls with more precision than you would on an arcade machine… Lukas picked it up quickly! It’s both fun and educational. That’s for sure.

Let's go look for turtles in their natural habitat!

What? Turtles? I was so surprised when I found out we could see large turtles in their natural habitat on the islands of the Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Park…just 20 minutes from downtown Montreal! My little family literally fell in love with this place where we can quickly unwind! First, we picked up some lunch boxes and stowed them in the back of the canoe we’d rented at the park’s visitor center. With all four of us in the same canoe, we had a blast paddling from island to island to find our little picnic spot by the water. It was hard to keep the kids still—we had to hurry to find the turtles basking in the sun!

Since our visit, a new Exploration Center has opened. It features the exhibition “Unbelievable but True!” which highlights the history of the Mille Îles River, its vast ecosystem, and its environmental challenges. We’ll have to go back!

Butterflies on the loose!

Another new feature is theBFLY Laval Attraction was eagerly anticipated by families who love butterfly houses. Four large domes with a magical setting are home to hundreds of butterflies flying freely! Scheduled opening date: July 1, 2022.