Family vacation in the Laurentians: a nature getaway at Pourvoirie du Lac Berval

There are trips you wait all year for. This was one of them. No phone, no wifi, just our family, the lake, and three days to finally slow down. Here's the story of our getaway in the Laurentians, and why we already can't wait to go back.

Everyone was buzzing: school was finally out! A big day for the kids, who couldn't wait for vacation... and neither could we! At home, it was a bit of a scramble to get everything ready in time. Between packing, groceries, and last-minute errands, we just wanted to hit the road.

Then the big day finally arrived. We hopped into our Casita and headed to Parc régional de la Rivière-du-Nord in Saint-Jérôme, our first stop!

We'd been there three years ago and had great memories of it. On arrival, we got a warm welcome and a guided hike. We walked around the Duck Pond, admired the Wilson Falls, and ended at the ropes course to enjoy our lunch box from La Ptite Boîte à Lunch in Saint-Sauveur. So good!

We took time to play with the kids and let them splash around in the water games before heading to our final destination: Pourvoirie du Lac Berval in Mont Blanc.

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https://www.parcrivieredunord.ca/

On arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the owner. The lake atmosphere and the smell of the forest instantly put us in the mood. So peaceful here! We knew we'd be so happy. The perfect place to unplug.

We settled into our huge 16-person chalet, Le Rassembleur: comfortable, new, with a large patio and a stunning lake view. Wow. Paradise.

Once we were all set up, I got a message from my parents: they were at reception! Time for the surprise. I walked over to get them and brought them back to the chalet. The kids were so happy to see grandpa and grandma, it was really touching. My son had dreamed for so long of his grandfather teaching him to fish. Finally, the chance had come.

After the reunion, my parents got settled in while we made a nice pasta dinner. The kids were thrilled, so were we. We laughed, played a round of Rummy, then went to bed: a big day of fishing awaited the next day!

We got up early, had breakfast, got ready, and finally headed out to fish. We split into two teams on two rowboats. Here, trout is what you fish for, and it stays deep, so we did some deadlining and trolling hoping to catch a few.

The kids were patient, the weather was nice, and we were comfortable. After an hour and a half without a bite, the little ones got a bit restless... but grandpa got to teach his grandson how to fish, and even without a catch, everyone was happy.

Back at the chalet, the sky clouded over. We decided to stay in: some napped, grandma and grandpa played badminton outside, the girls went rock hunting, and card games and board games kept coming.

After a while, we went to explore the site. The kids played on the playground near reception, and we did the short but very pretty Sentier du Castor hike, right on site. Just under two kilometers, perfect for stretching our legs and discovering another view of the lake.

Back at the chalet, the kids wanted to swim. We split up again: the grandparents tried their luck fishing again while we headed to the swimming dock. The water was comfortable and the kids swam for a good hour. I couldn't help but feel so good and lucky, relaxing on the lake, hearing the kids laugh and play. We'd waited so long for this moment this year: the one where we could finally enjoy being together without rushing. Just living.

After swimming, we grilled hot dogs on the BBQ. Everyone was relaxed and having fun. While my dad and I went out for a third round of fishing before dark, Guillaume got a campfire going with marshmallows. But by the time we got back, we barely had time to settle in before the rain came down on us, and not a light rain! We had to rush inside for shelter. But what would Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day be without a rained-out campfire? No matter: we went to bed with full hearts after a dream of a day.

Once again, we got ready to fish. This morning was even nicer and warmer than the day before. The owners even took the time to come dry out and empty the rainwater from our boats, a small gesture that really meant a lot.

We headed back out on the lake with new teams. We switched boats two or three times so everyone could try fishing with grandpa. Charlie even went out alone with him over lunchtime. We saw great blue herons, loons, had great conversations, untangled a few fishing line knots along the way... but still no fish! Luck wasn't on our side for trout this year.

We came in for lunch as thunder rumbled in the distance and the sky clouded over. We took the chance to play a few card games and rest. When the sky cleared, we decided to try kayaking and paddle boarding. This time, the parents even decided to swim with the kids.

And then, a big moment: Alaska, who had always been afraid of the water, swam in the lake without holding onto us. A huge milestone in our daughter's life.

Meanwhile, the grandparents fished a bit, then we all met up for dinner: delicious tacos, yum. My dad and I tried one last round of fishing in the evening... but it was just as quiet for us. We told ourselves we'd have to come back to try again another time!

The kids were tired and went to bed early. We ended the evening chatting in the living room. Where did the time go!

Lots of fun and quality time. No phone, no wifi, real good conversations, games, naps, rest, and so much time to be together. It did us a world of good.

My parents left very early the next morning, and we gathered our things for the next adventures. Vacation is off to a great start, and we already can't wait to go back to Pourvoirie du Lac Berval. Who knows, next time we might actually catch some trout!