Best family destinations in the west

With the construction holiday in full swing and with over a month to go before the kids head back to school, you might be looking for some spots where the whole family can spend some quality time together.

Best of the West asked four of The Chronicle’s ‘family experts’ (four parents who are actually in the office this week) to rate the five nominated top family destinations in the West Island.

Four main characteristics came into play during the scoring: value, kid-friendliness, accessibility, and the ‘good times’ factor (how fun it really is).

Fifth-place Ste. Anne de Bellevue boardwalk – which finished with 242 out of 400 points -- picked up a few nods thanks to the boat-watching and ice cream-eating factors but lost on the overall kid-friendliness of the spot.

“I think Ste. Anne’s is great, but there’s really nothing for kids aged two to seven,” said The Chronicle’s news director Marc Lalonde. “Ice cream is great, but it costs money. There are no ‘free’ attractions besides the water.”

Bois de Liesse Nature Park in Pierrefonds (9432 Gouin Blvd.) scored 311 out of 400 to finish fourth. While one judge commented on it being difficult to access from the south part of the West Island, all agreed the park brings nature, adventure, and fun together in a great family destination.

“Bois de Liesse is great year-round for biking, sledding, and animal awareness,” said sales representative Graham Doughty.

In third was Quinn Farm in Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot (2495 Perrot Blvd. South), with 313 out of 400 points. While not technically located in the West Island, this spot has become a tradition for many families looking to pick their own apples, strawberries, pumpkins, take a hayride, or choose their own Christmas tree in the winter.

“It’s a nice, fun way to hang out with the family,” said Lalonde. However, speaking from experience, he gave this warning to parents: “It’s exhausting carrying around four pumpkins and three bags of apples all day.”

The animals at the Ecomuseum in Ste. Anne de Bellevue (21125 Ste. Marie Rd.) will be happy to hear their home came second, with 332 points out of 400. With over 90 species of wildlife to see, educational presentations, and plenty of special events, this 11.3 hectare educational wildlife preserve scored big points in all four categories with our judges.

“(It’s) educational and fun any time of the year,” said sales coordinator Irene Burda.

The Cap St. Jacques Nature Park in Pierrefonds/Roxboro (20099 Gouin Blvd. West) placed first with 369 out of 400 points thanks to the amount of activities possible: hiking, biking, boating, skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, swimming at the beach, visiting the animals at the farm, observing nature – the list goes on.

“A great place in the summer or winter,” said sales representative François Dupont. “A farm to visit, a sugar (shack), sporting activities – a great family destination.”

Send us your suggestions

Today is the deadline to get your nominations in for the West Island’s best hot dog. In the coming weeks, we’ll also be rating the best French fries, the best place to catch the game, and the best scenic view, and we need you to help us determine our Best of the West list. So, send your nominations to marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca, editor@transcontinental.ca, and info.citésnouvelles@transcontinental.ca., or give us a call at 514-685-4690, ext. 243. Make sure to let us know what exactly makes your favourite the Best of the West. If your submission stands out, it may be up for a prize, including a pair of tickets to a Hudson Village Theatre show. We look forward to hearing from you.