My little ones have a favorite spot near the park.
We go there from time to time in the winter, weather permitting, and more often in the summer.
We wade in the creek with our rain boots, watch tadpoles grow over time, and see who can make the biggest splash by throwing a rock. They haven’t quite mastered the art of skipping rocks. 
One of my daughter’s Christmas presents was a rock painting kit. With the flattest rocks placed in colorful buckets, our last trip was a success.
andrea lee bishop 