It doesn’t surprise me at all that Frommer’s lists the Toronto Music Garden as an attraction to see if you only have one day in Toronto. It is free, right by the water and just exquisite.

The garden was designed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy. Inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, each section of the garden corresponds to a movement in the music.

I highly recommend getting to the Sarabande section if you have a little one, because there is a small pool of water that is really lovely. This area is meant to be a reflective poet’s corner, and we reflected on how totally fun this pool of water was.

The Toronto Music Garden is open year-round and is also a wonderful place to see cherry blossoms bloom in the spring. Free concerts take place in the summertime on Thursday and Sundays, weather permitting. You can find out more by calling 416-973-4000. It is located on the waterfront between Bathurst and Spadina at 475 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto.