Finding destinations that suit the likes of all members of a family can be tricky, but Québec really does have it all and then some. From options to plunge into parts of the province's breathtaking natural environment, devour local cuisine that affirms why Québec is a hub of world gastronomy, to in and outdoor adrenaline surge inducing action, you'll experience that joie de vivre vibe and discover that Québec offers fun for the whole family!

While Montreal and Quebec City tend to be the most popular regions, you'll want to give Lanaudière and Laval a try.​​ If you're looking for an all-encompassing family adventure in these not as well known, yet no less incredible regions, here are some suggestions on where to STAY, EAT & EXPLORE.

LANAUDIERE

Lanaudière is one of 17 regions in Québec just a stone's throw from Montreal. It stretches from the Saint Lawrence River toward the Laurentian Mountains. Its landscape of farmland, hills and lakes is known for activities such as hiking, cycling and golf. Two-thirds of the Lanaudiere region are public, making it an open playground for you and your family to discover & explore. It is considered one of the most "authentique" regions of la belle province and there are SO many ways to have fun with the whole family!

Just 1hr 15 minutes from Montreal, and in the city of Sainte-Émélie-de-l'Énergie, stay at L'Auberge du Vieux Moulin – a family-owned, rural oasis with accommodations and amenities for an enjoyable family stay. The resort has spacious suites or private chalets with rustic country charm you'd expect of its location amidst the meadows and mountains of the region and gorgeous lake views from private porches you can soak in some serenity or watch the older kids immerse in water fun with their on-lake water trampoline and non-motorized watercraft.

Families will also love their indoor swimming pool, outdoor spa, an array of all-season activities, over 40 km of hiking trails and lodging/dining packages to suit your family's preferences and budget.  Don't miss a visit to the on-site sugar shack where you can grab some authentic Canadian made maple syrup to take home as a tasty souvenir.

EAT

Stay on-property and enjoy the fine local culinary fare of L'Auberge du Vieux-Moulin prepped on-site by owner & formally trained Chef Yves Marcoux and tantalizingly presented by his partner & restaurant manager Sylvie. Dining experiences are offered for breakfast (8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.) and dinner (6 – 8 p.m.) with take-away "lunch box" snacks for mid-day. To offer your taste buds some variety, dinners operate under three alternating table d'hôte menus featuring gourmet meals made with quality, locally sourced & foraged ingredients. There are 2 kids' menus with modified meal versions to suit the younger ones. Note: they do their best to accommodate food allergies and do have gluten-free options.

Alternatively, there are lots of markets/grocers in Lanaudière where you can pick up some of the region's food specialties, like local cheeses, venison and maple drenched potato donuts!

EXPLORE

While a stay at L'Auberge du View-Moulin would be enough enjoyment on its own, there are some fantastic spots to get out and explore in the Lanaudière region with your family.

For an edu-taining wildlife experience, head to La Terre des Bisons in Rawdon (said to have been one of the stops on Amazing Race Canada). You can join a guided tour (about 45 minutes) to learn more about this fascinating species, head down the family-friendly trails where you'll spot some Wapiti (Elk), and start or end your farm tour with a visit to their newly opened Wild Game Discovery Centre with immersive activities, visual Bison history presentations and museum of local artistry.

It's a certified accessible facility for family members with mobility challenges. Before you leave, grab a selfie with "Buffy" -the friendliest of the Bison bunch – and head to the on-site gift shop for Bison & Elk spreads or frozen venison meat if you're game. Open 7 days/week May to October.

If you love immersing in nature and soaking in spectacular sights with your family, head to Parc regional des Chutes Dorwin (Dorwin Waterfalls). There's a 2.5 km ecological trail running along the gorge where Ouareau River flows and two multi-level observation points of the 60-ft falls where you can take some great family photos.

Pack your family's favourite foods (lots of grocery options in the vicinity) and enjoy lunch outdoors in their designated picnic area with lots of picnic tables and convenient restroom and playground facilities right beside. There's geocaching at this location for families that partake. Cost: children 6 and under are FREE, 7-12 $4.00 and 13+ $8.00.

Does your gang like soaring to new heights, some challenge and accompanying adrenaline rushes? If so, you'll want to visit a world of adventure in the treetops at Arbraska Rawdon . After harnessing up, obtaining your colour-coded wristband, and getting a safety tutorial, there are over 120 challenges, including zip-lining, rope bridges, climbing nets and Tarzan-style lianas to enjoy from beginner to EXTREME. A Family Package costs $130 CAD, overs 2 adults + 2 kids ages 5 – 13 years old and gives you over 3 hrs to enjoy the tree-based activities.

There is also Arbre-en-Ciel Village for kids 3-7 – a "trees in the sky" adventure land with climbers, tree houses, obstacle courses, tunnels & bridges, with lots of seating areas for breaks and snacks. Not a fan of heights? There's also a ground-level GPS Rally where your family can find waypoints & solve riddles in the forest. Note: online reservations are required prior to your visit. There are 12 Arbraska locations across Quebec, each with similar & unique activities.

While many activity suggestions are for the warmer months, the Lanaudiere region does have an array of activities to enjoy with your family during Winter too!

LAVAL

The Québec city of Laval covers the entire islands of Île Jésus and Îles Laval. The city is Montreal's largest suburb, sitting just to the north of it across the Prairies River. Often overlooked by the allure of Montreal, Laval is history & culture-rich and full of attractions and activities families will love and should not be missed on your visit to Québec. Bonus: if you're French is not up to par, you'll appreciate that most locals are fluent in English.

STAY

If you're looking for an affordable hotel, conveniently located near attractions and offering fantastic family amenities, consider a stay at Sheraton Laval.

Just twenty minutes from downtown Montreal and Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Airport, the Sheraton Laval is ideally located to take advantage of all the city offers. In the heart of Laval and close to the City's major highways, this property is also just steps away from Carrefour Laval Mall and near Centropolis – a one-stop entertainment hub with various shops, eateries and family venues like a movie theatre. So close, in fact, opting out of a car-rental would be possible as most attractions are accessible by the public transportation or via the hotel's complimentary 360 Shuttle.

There are roughly 244 well maintained, moderately priced guest rooms, including 12 suites, equipped with practical amenities your family will appreciate and the "sleeper beds" are a sleep-deprived parent's dream come true.

Families will love the indoor heated pool (with life jackets for kids!), and parents the spa tub and sauna in the same area. There's also Amerispa health and beauty centre and a well-equipped gym with very clean change rooms if you can fit in a mom or dad time-out during your stay to recharge.

EAT

A visit to Québec just for the food would be a satisfying adventure all its own. While there are so many gastro-friendly options for your family to enjoy throughout Laval, save at least one meal to enjoy Sheraton's Laval's not-to-be-missed buffets like their Friday or Saturday evening and/or Sunday Brunch that includes hot/cold buffet, choice entrees, food stations, chocolate fountain and live music + dance floor.

Nothing instills an appreciation for where our food comes from then a family visit to a local farm and pick-your-own experience. Head to Ferme Vaillancourt – owned and run by the Vaillancourt family for over 185 years. There's an on-site market where you can pick up produce harvested on-site & jams/marinades just like your Grandma makes, or hop on the tractor for a ride through the growing fields and hop off to do some family picking of in-season, sustainably grown fruit/veggies (berries, tomatoes, sweet peppers or eggplants).

Put away your tech and enjoy some good ole' family board game fun while you dine on pub-style fare at Premier Joueur. With over 1000 games to choose from (all originally owned by the establishment's game collecting owners), it won't be hard to find one your family dynamic will enjoy, and if you're stumped from the selection, don't worry, your assigned "Game Expert" will make some fantastic suggestions. The restaurant is fully licensed while proud of its family-friendly atmosphere.

Cost: $6.50 for 13+/adults; $4.50 for 12 and under; $20 Family rate for 2 adults + 2 kids. Food/beverages extra.

If you want to savour a real adventure for your family's taste buds, head to La Bete a Pain – a levelled up bakery offering ready-to-serve dishes, pastries, donuts and viennoiseries for takeout and dining area to grab a seat and enjoy seasonal, contemporary cuisine prepared with quality local ingredients.There's also the prettiest on-site floral & housewares shop to pick up some lovelies after you dine. Menu items very reasonably priced between $4-24 CAD.

If visiting Laval in July, plan to go when Festival des Bieres takes place at Centre de la Nature. A BIG family-friendly, country-style outdoor celebration of Quebec's micro-brewing industry and regional food offerings, with kid-friendly activations and live entertainment to enjoy. Take public transit to sip and savour responsibly, and also avoid parking challenges – the festival draws a 30,000+ crowd.

Cost: Youth under 17 years of age are FREE, and passes for 18+ start at $10 (admission includes all activities & workshops. Food/beverage samplings extra). Beer samplings range from $2-10 (you're allowed to bring your own mug under 16 oz!), and food reasonably priced and determined by each vendor.

EXPLORE

Join the Escape room craze and enjoy some mind-boggling, clue cracking fun under pressure to escape in a 60-minute timed, themed experience at Escaparium Laval. They have 10 experiences to choose from and are currently constructing what will be a next-level, high tech Pirate-themed experience, positioning themselves as one of the best escape rooms in North America.

Suggested group size is 2-8 people, and while they say "all-ages", these experiences are most suitable for 10 years plus.

Cost: $26.99/person. NOTE: 2 rooms are certified accessible for those with mobility challenges.

If action-packed and active recreation is your jam, and you're looking for a spot to burn off some family energy, head to Clip n' Climb Laval where you can scale over 34 themed climbing walls of various levels of difficulty to suit all ages.Enjoy some healthy family competition with a showdown on their timed race walls, or test your tolerance for heights with the ultimate adrenaline surge experience on the Vertical Drop Slide.  Clip n' Climb is located in the Cosmopolitan complex making for a one-stop family experience.

Cost: Under 5 $11.50; 6+ $23 per hour. The Vertical Drop Slide & Leap of Faith activations are an extra $4.35 (or 2 for $6.09). Note: Socks and closed-toe shoes are a must.

If you need some nature and chill after the other action-packed suggestions, add Parc de la Riviere des-Mille-Iles to your family adventure itinerary. This heavily protected wildlife sanctuary is a unique and popular outdoor attraction of the region with so many amenities to enjoy like cycling paths, hiking trails, guided ecological tours around the islands, non-motorized watercraft rentals in Spring/Summer and skating paths, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing trails & ice fishing in Winter.

There is also the newly opened, enviro-friendly Exploration Centre where you can learn about the rich history and environmental issues of Parc Mille-des-Iles in the Believe It or Not! Exhibit (Incroyable, mais vrai!) and meet some rather cute reptiles like Mojito, Margarita & Smiley in the Turtle sanctuary. Fuel your family at the on-site bistro with lots of ready-to-serve food options and drinks.

Cost: Parking and access to the grounds are free, while watercraft rentals start at $13/hour and guided excursions and cruises of the islands: $18/adult & $12/child (6 to 13 years old)

The Incroyable, mais vrai! exhibition is $11/adult, $7.50/child (6 to 13 years old).

From its culinary offering for all palates to the endless array of urban and rural activities, the Lanaudiere & Laval regions of La belle province truly offer all-encompassing fun for the whole family!

Visit QuebecOriginal for more suggestions to plan your perfect family adventure!

Useful links

​https://houseofkerrs.com/fun-for-the-whole-family-in-quebec-where-to-stay-eat-explore/
https://www.auberge-lanaudiere.com/en/hebergement/suite-luxueuse-avec-foyer-bois-bain-sur-pattes.html#product_tabs_description_tabbed

http://terredesbisons.com/

https://www.parcsregionaux.org/parcs-regionaux/parcs/parc-des-chutes-dorwin/

https://arbraska.com/parc/rawdon/

https://www.marriott.fr/hotels/travel/yulls-sheraton-laval-hotel?program=spg

http://fermedauteuil.com/en

https://www.labeteapain.com/

https://www.festivaldesbieresdelaval.com/index.html

https://www.parc-mille-iles.qc.ca/en/activities/