Memories of a wonderful day on Grosse-Ile with young children

For several years now, my good friend Ariane and her husband Samuel have been talking to me about visiting Grosse-Ile. This summer, with our 4 children (aged 1 to 6), we finally said yes to a day on an island in the heart of the St. Lawrence. Here’s the story.

A few days before the outing, I bought our tickets on the Croisières AML website. The schedule and prices are well indicated (it’s even free for children aged 4 and under). We had to plan for a full day (our schedule was from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

We had decided to pack a communal lunch for our picnic on the island, but it is possible to buy lunch boxes. On Grosse-Ile, you can leave your bag in the reception building.

We opted for our regular stroller and the hiking bag (my favorite for the day with my 1-year-old). When we arrived on the boat, the sailors helped us and there was a special area for strollers.

Some parts of the island are not accessible by stroller. If your child is not yet walking and you don’t want to miss anything, I recommend a baby carrier. The travel stroller can be interesting, but you have to bear in mind that this is a wild island.

If you decide to leave the stroller at home, don’t worry, the walking distances are short and the longest is with a strolling train.

To be honest, what worried me most was having to chase after my son on the boat. He finally started his cruise in the hiking bag and was fine. The older kids watched what was going on in the wheelhouse. There were lots of people on deck, so my friends preferred the quiet inside the boat. We listened to Captain Jean-François Lachance’s stories, peppered with jokes! He’s always so kind and charming! The weather was beautiful! It was the start of a wonderful adventure!

A guard of honour to welcome us to Grosse-Ile. Nothing less. On site, we’re divided into groups and briefed on the day’s activities. We’re really taken care of from A to Z. Our different itineraries almost give us the impression of being alone on the island. We, Group 2, start with the train ride to the Lazaret. The children receive a guide and their Xplorateurs badge. They’re very proud.

On the way, the group makes a few stops and we listen to our guide’s explanations (the well-balanced historical part makes all the difference). The children listen and watch the view of the river and the buildings. Everyone is happy.