I visited a great little park last week for the first time. It's a hidden little gem on the outskirts of Wetaskiwin. 'By the Lake Park' provides a lovely space to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

The lake is home to pelicans, cormorants, ducks, geese and other waterfowl that were too far away to identify without binoculars. The pelicans swam in unison, dipping every now and again to fill their large bills with fish. The lake is stocked so if the birds leave any fish, you can head there with your fishing rod.

There is a little island in the middle of the lake. The day that I was there the cormorants were sunning themselves with the pelicans. Cormorants don't have oil on their feathers like other birds so they need to spread their wings to dry them out. There was a lot of wing spreading and flapping happening.

Benches are strategically placed so visitors can sit and watch the action on the lake. There are lots of tables for people to gather for picnics.

A man-made stream flows over the rocks, producing the wonderful sound of running water. A paved hiking/biking trail encompasses the lake, taking you past the stream before weaving through the trees.

The park is definitely on the list to visit again. If you are looking for a day trip destination; pack up a picnic lunch, grab your camera, put on the walking shoes and head out on the highway to Wetaskiwin.