Toronto's Secret Places

Officially named Rush Lane, this three-block stretch of back-alley between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street has become one of downtown Toronto's most photographed spots — a legalized, constantly evolving open-air gallery of murals covering nearly every surface.

The art here isn't static: new murals appear and old ones get painted over regularly, so the alley looks meaningfully different every time you visit. Subjects range from bold portraiture to surreal creatures — black panthers, blue cats, and pink ladies have all made appearances over the years.

It's become such a fixture of Toronto's street art scene that it now anchors informal walking tours of the surrounding Queen West art district, but the alley itself costs nothing and needs no guide to enjoy.

Designed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma alongside landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy, the Toronto Music Garden translates Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello into landscape form: six garden sections, each corresponding to one of the suite's dance movements, with curving paths that mimic flowing water and regularly spaced trees standing in for musical measures.

Along the way you'll find a birch forest, a wildflower meadow, contemplative seating areas, a music pavilion, and a grass amphitheatre built into a small hill — all free and open to wander at any time of year.

In summer, the garden hosts its own free concert series, Summer Music in the Garden, running most Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons — a rare chance to hear live music in the exact setting it was designed to evoke.

It's easy to forget you're still inside a major city at Riverdale Farm: 7.5 acres of farmland, woodland, and ponds sit just east of downtown, complete with barns, livestock, and a butterfly-herb-vegetable-flower garden — and it's entirely free to visit.

The farm runs activities and demonstrations year-round, giving visitors a genuine working-farm experience without leaving the city. Wander through wooded paths, watch the animals, or simply enjoy a quiet green space that feels a world away from downtown traffic.

It's a favourite for families, but works equally well as a quiet, unhurried break from a busier sightseeing day, with no admission fee to weigh against your schedule.