Family Travel Guides: Texas, Costa Rica, and Beyond
Family travel guides from My Sparkling Life covering trips in Texas and Costa Rica, plus the other family destinations listed on this page. Start with the three guides below or pick a region. The quick answers are fees and seasons from official sources, each linked; fees and rules change, so check the source before you go.
By Olivia
Quick answers
- Visit Costa Rica, the country’s tourism board, describes the dry season as mid-December to late April and the green (wet) season as May through mid-December, and says the Caribbean coast has a longer rainy period. — Source: Visit Costa Rica: when to visit
- Visit Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park FAQ states that it is mandatory to enter the park with an authorized guide. — Source: Visit Costa Rica: Corcovado FAQ
- Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country lists daily entry at $8 for ages 13 and older, and children 12 and under enter free (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fee page). — Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife: Garner State Park fees
- At Padre Island National Seashore, a private-vehicle pass costs $25.00 for 7 days (or $10 for a 1-day pass), and visitors aged 15 and under do not need an individual per-person pass (NPS fee page, last updated December 13, 2025). — Source: NPS: Padre Island fees
- Texas Parks and Wildlife describes Palo Duro Canyon as the second largest canyon in the country, in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. — Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife: Palo Duro Canyon
Start here
Texas
Beaches and sights across Texas: Corpus Christi, family-friendly beaches, SeaWorld San Antonio, ghost tours and five places beyond the cities.
Costa Rica
A guide to the 10 best national parks in Costa Rica.
More family destinations
Tybee Island, Mexico beach towns, Nashville, a Fiji resort, fall tours and winter trips for non-skiers.
Popular questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
Visit Costa Rica, the country’s tourism board, describes the dry season as mid-December to late April and the green (wet) season as May through mid-December, and says the Caribbean coast has a longer rainy period.
Do I need a guide to visit Corcovado National Park?
Visit Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park FAQ states that it is mandatory to enter the park with an authorized guide.
Are Texas state parks free for kids?
At Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country, children 12 and under enter free and daily entry is $8 for ages 13 and older, per the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fee page. That is one park’s fee, so check the page for the park you plan to visit.
Is Padre Island National Seashore free for kids?
At Padre Island National Seashore, a private-vehicle pass costs $25.00 for 7 days (or $10 for a 1-day pass), and visitors aged 15 and under do not need an individual per-person pass (NPS fee page, last updated December 13, 2025).