While you'll certainly encounter modern communities in Laval, the area still is known for its charming rural landscapes. Many local farmers sell the fruits (such as strawberries, raspberries and apples) of their labor in the vicinity. Several agricultural operations welcome visitors who delight in picking their own produce, including Chez Vaillancourt, 3155 av. des Perron, (450) 622-6429, open mid-June through October; Ferme D. et M. Sauriol, 3150 boul. des Mille-Îles, (450) 666-6564, open mid-June to mid-October; and Ferme F. Turcot et Fils, 7209 av. des Perron, (450) 622-6872, open June through October.
Continue nibbling at the 440 Public Market (Marché Public 440) on Hwy. 440, (450) 682-1440, home to a variety of specialty food vendors. With the market offering everything from gourmet cheeses to fine chocolates, you're certain to find a few goodies to bring home (though it's doubtful such delectable treats will make it that far). Sample a snack or two while browsing the stores, but try not to spoil your appetite! With on-site eateries serving up sushi, deli fare, pizza, steaks and seafood, the market (open Sat.-Wed. 9-6, Thurs.-Fri. 9-9) is a convenient munching spot for indecisive diners.
In addition many of the former municipalities now comprising Laval afford ample shopping opportunities. Such neighborhoods as Old Ste-Rose (Vieux-Ste-Rose) and Old St-Vincent-de-Paul (Vieux-St-Vincent-de-Paul) boast quaint streets lined by clothing boutiques, arts and crafts shops, cafés and antique dealers. In pastoral Old Ste-Dorothée (Vieux-Ste-Dorothée) the province’s largest concentration of flower producers will enchant you with vibrant, fragrant displays of merchandise.
Chock-full of green space, Laval beckons nature lovers. One of the area’s largest natural expanses is Mille-Îles River Park (Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles), which is part of a protected wildlife sanctuary. Explore marshes and forested islands teeming with life on a solo kayak trip along the river, or board a rabaska canoe for a narrated group tour of the archipelago. Located at 345 boul. Ste-Rose, the park is open daily 9-6 from mid-May to mid-October; phone (450) 622-1020.
The Nature Centre (Centre de la Nature), 901 av. du Parc, is a 50-hectare (123-acre) urban park frequented year-round by such outdoor enthusiasts as hikers, kayakers and rock climbers. Also on the grounds are a small farm inhabited by barnyard animals, an observatory, and a greenhouse sheltering tropical plants; phone (450) 662-4942.
An exhilarating way to take in Laval's many parks and wooded expanses is to traverse the Route Verte, a vast network of bike paths crisscrossing Québec. From Montréal, the trail cuts across the center of Île Jésus; it also runs along the lower half of the island's northern shore. For those who prefer to travel by foot, hiking trails abound in Laval. Five kilometres (3 mi.) of trails are available at Papineau Woods (Bois Papineau), 3235 boul. St-Martin Est, while a 4-kilometre (2.5-mi.) pedestrian pathway highlights the scenic beauty of the Park of the Meadows (Parc des Prairies).
iSaute, is an indoor trampoline center at 2045 boul. Dagenais Ouest; phone (514) 761-7373. Not only can you jump on the many trampolines, you can dunk basketballs and play dodgeball on them as well.
Visitor Centers
Laval Tourism 480 Promenade du Centropolis Laval, QC H7T 3C2. Phone:(450)682-5522 or (877)465-2825