santa is a winter texan

Houston keeps warm as 6th best winter destination in the U.S. for 2025

The holidays are nearly upon us.

Calling all snowbirds: Houston has landed among the top 10 best warm-weather winter destinations in America for 2025.

WalletHub's collection of the "Best Winter Holiday Destinations" is an annual ranking of the largest 69 U.S. metros to determine the ultimate "warm" and "cold" weather destinations for the upcoming winter season. Every metro was analyzed using 37 relevant metrics across six key dimensions, such as travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, activities, and safety.

Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada, retained its position as the No. 1 best warm-weather winter destination for the fourth consecutive year. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California, claimed No. 2 for the third year in a row.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 6 for the second year in a row, which is a two-spot improvement over its former No. 8 rank in 2023.

According to the report's findings, the Houston metro has the No. 1 lowest "travel costs and hassles" for the winter season out of all U.S. cities.

This is how the report broke down Houston's rank across the remaining five key dimensions:

No. 6 – Attractions
No. 7 – Warm-weather activities
No. 9 – Local costs
No. 23 – Weather
No. 33 – Safety

In all, Texas metros dominated the top 10. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown ranked as the No. 3 best warm-weather destination this year, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked 4th, and San Antonio-New Braunfels ranked 9th on the list.

Other Texas metros that landed on the list include: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (No. 24), Killeen-Temple (No. 29), Beaumont-Port Arthur (No. 31), Brownsville-Harlingen (No. 35), and Corpus Christi (No. 36).

“When the mercury drops, some Americans welcome the chill while others follow the sun,” the report said. “This year, the winter promises to be a warmer one. The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecasts a temperate and uneventful winter across most of the U.S.”

Meanwhile, WalletHub named Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin as the No. 1 best cold-weather destination for 2025.

For the purpose of the study, warm and cold cities were based on their 50-year average December temperatures. "Cold" weather was determined to be less than or equal to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while "warm" weather was greater than or equal to 57 degrees.

The top 10 best warm-weather winter destinations in 2025 are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada
No. 2 – San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
No. 3 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 4 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
No. 5 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
No. 6 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
No. 7 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
No. 8 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
No. 9 – San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
No. 10 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California

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calling all shutterbugs

Luxury camera brand Leica picks Houston for first Texas store

Courtesy of Leica

Photographers will be able to see Leica's full product range at its new store.

One of the world’s most respected camera brands is coming to Houston. Leica will bring the first Texas location of its store and gallery concept to River Oaks District.

Slated to open next year next to Le Colonial, the Leica Store and Gallery is described in press materials as an “immersive retail concept” that both showcases the brand’s cameras and the work photographers create with them. Towards that end, the store will host exhibitions, educational programming, workshops, and artist talks. Its gallery will provide a museum-style display of photographs taken with Leica equipment.

“Houston is one of America’s most dynamic cultural centers, with a vibrant arts community and an entrepreneurial spirit that makes it a natural home for Leica,” said Mike Giannattasio, president, Leica Camera North America, in a statement. “We look forward to creating a space that not only showcases our products but also brings together photographers, artists, and creators.”

Of course, the store will also sell the full line of Leica cameras, including the M-System, SL-System, and Q cameras, as well as lenses, timepieces, and home cinema products. The German company is known for its craftsmanship, design, and sophisticated technology, making it a favorite among professional photographers.

“We look forward to welcoming Leica to River Oaks District in 2027,” added Robert Bernard, senior real estate manager at Fertitta Entertainment, the company that acquired River Oaks District in 2024. “We are intentional about bringing in brands that elevate the overall experience of the district, and Leica is a perfect reflection of that vision. This unique, art-forward destination celebrates local artists, craftsmanship, and one-of-a-kind experiences alongside the world’s most celebrated luxury brands.”

River Oaks District is an 18-acre development at 4444 Westheimer. It’s home to more than 50 high-end shops and restaurants, including Steak 48, MAD, Hermes, Dior, and Cartier.

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