There's a place on the shoreline by the Lock House Museum where, if you sit huddled up close enough that you feel you could almost fall into the water, you catch the most magnificent breeze.

That's not to say that there aren't beautiful and serene places everywhere—many are right here in Havre de Grace, some with breezes to boot.

But over the past few months, I've taken a liking to this one particular spot.

I don't know what it is exactly that draws me there, amongst some tall weeds. Maybe it's the picturesque view of the bridge or the sailboats waving to me off in the distance.

Maybe it's the fact that there's no traffic near that spot. There's no anything really. And the only people who venture to the Lock House grounds seem to be others with the same peace-seeking goal, occasionally with a dog in tow.

Sure, it's a park and that's what it's supposed to be: a retreat, a green space, a place where nature is the centerpiece of the location.

And it's certainly all of those things.

But not all parks are as beautiful as the hidden gem of the Lock House.

If you're like me and you routinely set out on a walk or run, then you probably find yourself in some nook or cranny of this scenic city just staring off at something, often a breathtaking view.

There's the pier by the Lantern Queen where storytellers baring fishing poles seem to collide. You can lean over the railing and be mesmerized in either direction. And chances are, you'll feel like you could reach out and touch a sailboat moored just feet away.

Or maybe you prefer a bench near the Concord Point Lighthouse and the promenade, where people-watching is as much a sport as anything. Have you ever seen an elderly couple sitting there with their arms around one another, leaning in and whispering? I have.

Then, of course, there's Tydings Park where families stake out with picnics and overly-tired moms take their broods to play off enough energy that maybe, just maybe, they'll sleep through the night.

I once saw a young couple taking photos from the boat ramp at Jean S. Roberts Park underneath the Amtrak train bridge. There's a tiny peninsula that reaches out past where boats are launched, and if you venture out on it, the view is amazing.

Kids aren't the only ones who have taken to the "swimming hole" over the years. The grassy spot on the north side of the city is also a tuck-a-way where fishermen and sightseers sit along the shoreline.

And although it's not hidden by any means -- and not even a place where it's safe to stop and stare for long -- how about that view of the Chesapeake Bay when driving down the hill on MD Route 155 toward Juniata Street?

I always think of that view as the unofficial welcome sign to Havre de Grace.

If it were a sign, I imagine it would say, "Here you are in Havre de Grace. What more could you want?"