14 Amazing Things To Do In Laval, Quebec

From stunning flower fields, getting lost in corn mazes, thrilling adventures and unique dining experiences and nature activities, Laval is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Here are the best things to do in Laval for your own weekend getaway.

When to Visit Laval

Each season brings new activities to enjoy in Laval. Choose your visit based on the seasonal fun you want to have. There’s also a great mix of indoor activities for those rainy or snowy days. I loved my summer visit and also think fall and winter would be great times to visit for autumn and snowy fun. 

How Long Do You Need in Laval

You can easily do a day trip from Ottawa or Montreal but I recommend longer if possible. I spent a weekend here and there were lots of activities and restaurants to check out and also sparked my curiosity for what else there is to explore in the region for my next visit. 

How To Get to Laval

The best way to get to Laval is driving. It’s only a 2-hour and 30-minute drive from Ottawa making it a perfect weekend getaway or even a day trip. Laval is neighbours with Montreal, so it’s also the perfect city to add onto your Quebec adventures.  

How To Get Around Laval

I recommend having a car so you can easily enjoy the mix of activities from downtown Laval to farms. If you want to focus on downtown, you can take the free downtown shuttle bus, Navette 360. 

Things To Do in Laval

Indoor Skydiving with iFly

Ever wondered what its like to go skydiving and but the fear is holding you back? You need to try iFly. This sky diving simulator allows you to experience skydiving indoors in a controlled environment. I was smiling ear to ear throughout this whole experience. It was so much fun. I’ve been skydiving out of a plane and I much preferred this experience. You get the thrill of skydiving without the fear. 

The first step, getting geared up. They’ll give you a special suit, helmet and earplugs. Next, your experienced guide will run you through the hand signals and safety tips before going in. Once you’re in the tunnel its too loud to speak so inside you’ll use 4 easy hand signals to correct your form. 

Your group will sit in a waiting area where you’ll be able to watch group members enjoy their skydiving experience one by one. You’ll enter the 14ft wind tunnel and be able to experience free fall. 

We opted for the 3 flight experience: one normal flight where you stay low, one flight where your instructor will bring you higher into the tunnel, and a flight where you’re using a virtual reality headset and choose a landscape you want to “fly” through.

I definitely recommend checking out this unique experience when you’re in Laval. 

Centropolis

Centropolis is full of restaurants and shops to check out for your visit. We headed to the main hub where there’s a wide selection of restaurants bordering a circle with a beautiful garden in the middle.

If you time your visit right you might be able to catch live music or events. This lively nightlife hub is the perfect place to head for dinner and drinks. Enjoy the pedestrian promenade, street art and local and international cuisine. 

Balthazar Pub

We ended up at Balthazar Pub, a great spot for Quebecoise food and drinks. It’s a wonderful spot to start with dinner and see where the night takes you. It was very popular and also a good spot to experience the nightlife. I loved the live band followed by a DJ. Their vibe is about gathering and celebrating. There were date nights to friend groups out all coming together at Balthazar Pub. We loved sitting on their patio and enjoying drinks. 

I recommend trying one of their tartare’s, pollo picante chicken burger or ribs rack burger, and dessert pretzel with beer caramel sauce. Everything on their menu sounded great so I’m sure you can’t go wrong. If you’re a beer fan its a great spot to try Quebec beers. They have a selection of over 100 beers to try from. 

La Bête à Pain

Make sure to stop at La Bête à Pain, a restaurant and bakery. Their baked goods are perfection. I am still dreaming about their almond croissant. We got breakfast sandwiches and pastries to go, but it would also be a great spot to stay and enjoy brunch. It has a beautiful and bright interior. The hardest part will be narrowing down which pastry you want. They had everything from multiple croissant varieties too.

Nature Walk in Bois de l’Équerre

Enjoy this urban forest with 12.95 km, including 2.65 km of trails adapter for people with reduced mobility. of trails and home to a variety of ecosystems. Bois de l’Équerre is home to a variety of ecosystems that you’ll see as you stroll through. It’s also dog-friendly.

This would be an amazing place to enjoy fall colours. Check out their upcoming activities before you visit. There’s a picnic area at the front where we enjoyed our sandwich from La Bête à Pain. 

Shopping at CF Carrefour

Shop til you drop at CF Carrefour. This mall has a wonderful selection of trendy, fashionable and exclusive brands. It’s the perfect spot for your change of season shopping, an occasion or just for fun. In the center of the mall, you’ll also find a garden. 

Les Serres Cléroux

Get your new favourite plant at Les Serres Cléroux, the largest producer of annual flowers in Quebec. Inside this greenhouse, you’ll find a mix of tropical plants, fall chrysanthemums and more. They have over 500 varieties of plants inside. 

Paddleboard Around Islands

Enjoy a sundown paddle through the islands at Parc de la rivière des Mille-Îles. The weather didn’t cooperate for us, but this is something I would look into for my next visit. 

Seasonal Farm Fun

Secret Lunch at Agneaux de Laval Farm Market

Agneaux de Laval Farm Market is a family-run farm that breeds lambs, grows barley and soybeans, and sells local products like their eggs, produce, specialty items and more. 

This year, they’ve added a unique experience where you can enjoy a special farm-to-table lunch at a special location in their farmer’s field. Enjoy a local feast in the farm field gazebo made with ingredients from Agneaux de Laval Farm Market and other nearby farms. 

You’ll drive out to your special location nestled in the field near the forest, where you can have a private dining experience. 

 This is such a unique dining experience, perfect for summer and fall. This experience would be perfect for a celebration, date night, or just a fun day. We were expecting to have a fun lunch at a farm, but this surpassed our expectations.

We had the opportunity to chat with owner Donald and learned about his goal to make it a gathering place. There are lots of family recipes that you’ll get to enjoy. 

Make sure to reserve in advance here. They have three gazebos available. This experience will be offered into fall, weather dependent. 

Ferme Marineau

Step into a beautiful farm full of Instagram-worthy moments and fun activities. Ferme Marineau is a 5 generation farm offering unique activities each season.

We visited for their floral festival where you can head to their stunning flower field and pick your own flowers to make a vibrant bouquet you can take home. This was such a fun experience wandering the field and finding new flowers to add. 

Navigate their corn maze turned sunflower maze and search for questions along the way. See how many you can find and answer. This was the first sunflower maze I’ve experienced and I’ve never seen such big sunflowers! You can do this experience before heading to the flower field.

Head back to the main farm with your bouquet and you can enjoy lunch in their beautifully decorated main room with countryside decor. They have some pumpkins teasing what you can expect at the farm in fall. 

There’s also plenty of games, live music and an artisanal ice cream truck you can enjoy. This was such a fun day on the farm you won’t want to miss. I could have easily spent a whole day here alone. 

Ferme Forget

Ferme Forget is a nine-generation farm offering a variety of fruits and vegetables. Head here for pick your own seasonal offerings like berries, pumpkins, sunflowers and more. You can also pick up items in their farm store. Check their website before going to see what’s in season. 

Enjoy some farm fun at Ferme Forget. From navigating their corn labyrinth, tractor pull and other farm games, there are plenty of opportunities for some friendly competition with your friends and family.

This year’s corn maze has the theme “Monopoly.” It’s equivalent to 5 football fields in size! You can also navigate the maze at night on a few special nights in September. 

Head out to the pumpkin patch on their tractor and find the best one! You can also pick your own sunflowers and zinnias and make a beautiful bouquet. 

My favourite part was the sunflower field! Keep an eye out for photo props for an Instagram-worthy moment from hidden door frames to the cute bike above.

Dinner at the Le Boating Club

Make sure to visit Le Boating Club, a cool vibe restaurant and bar in Saint Rose. It’s housed in a heritage building from 1889. There are multiple rooms to choose from, and each has a great atmosphere. You’ll love their surf and turf menu and delicious cocktails. 

We loved sharing the octopus and lobster salad. Le Boating Club has a youthful vibe and another great spot for dinner and drinks and seeing where the night takes you.

Outdoor Escape Game in Old Ste-Rose

If you like escape rooms, try out the outdoor version that will have you exploring Old Ste-Rose by the water. This experience will have you solving a special case. This is through Immersia Escape Games. You’ll start at their location, where they’ll give you a rundown and provide all the materials you need for this experience. You’ll drive a short distance to Old Ste-Rose and see how long it takes you to crack the puzzle. This would be perfect for families. 

Where to Stay in Laval

We enjoyed staying at the Sheraton Laval, located only 20 minutes from downtown Montreal. Enjoy spacious, modern rooms in a convenient location right beside CF Carrefour Laval. There are also restaurants La Piazza restaurant that offers Mediterranean cuisine. 

Enjoy the indoor pool, hot tub or a massage at Amerispa. 

If you upgrade to the Sheraton Club, you’ll have access to their lounge. It is the perfect spot to refresh during the day, especially after the road trip. It feels like you’ve entered a hidden library. Both the happy hour and breakfast were wonderful. 

I hope you have as much fun visiting Laval as I did. Thanks to Laval Tourism for the invite. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I’d love to see your trip on Instagram or Tik Tok.