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Houston warms up as a top-10 best winter vacation spot in the U.S., per report

McGovern Centennial Gardens at Hermann Park

This is winter in Houston,.

Hermann Park Conservancy Facebook

Somewhere between the arctic blast that recently chilled the state and the triple digit temperatures of the last few months, Houston is one of the top destinations for winter vacationers looking for a warm place to spend their holidays, a new report by WalletHub found.

The 2023 edition of WalletHub's "Best Winter Holiday Destinations" list divided 70 of the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas into two categories: the top "warm" and "cold" weather destinations. The study evaluated every metro based on 37 factors, including travel costs, local costs, weather predictions, safety, and more.

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 8 with a score of 59.82 points (out of a possible 100). This was a slight downgrade from Houston's 2022 rating at No. 7.

For the purpose of the study, "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 Fahrenheit. Both guidelines were analyzed based on the 50-year average December temperatures.

The report found that Houston had the No. 1 lowest travel cost and hassles, much of which can be owed to the busy yet highly efficient George Bush Intercontinental Airport and the five-star William P. Hobby Airport.

Luckily for Texans, the cheerful holiday season begins in November. There's plenty of time to make those festive weekend plans, from ice rinks to cowboy Santa appearances throughout the Hill Country and the rest of the state.

As expected, most of the best warm weather destinations in the report fall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The highest concentration of warm weather places is in the Sunshine State of Florida (10 metros), followed closely behind by Texas (nine metros), then California (eight metros).

However, Texas cities dominated the top 10. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown climbed past the rest into No. 3, Dallas-Fort Worth Arlington ranked No. 4, and San Antonio-New Braunfels rounded out the top five.

According to Linchi Kwok, a professor of hospitality management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, winter holiday travel around the country is going to be impacted by the current economy. That could possibly make other Texas destinations like San Antonio, Austin, or Dallas more enticing for Houston residents.

"While Americans still want to travel this winter, they may pick a destination closer to home and find ways to stretch the dollar," Kwok said.

Oddly enough, if Houstonians would like to get away and enjoy some cold weather, the report would send them to Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia (No. 1). Not exactly the picture of a winter wonderland. Chicago, at No. 3, is the highest ranked cold destination in the Northern states.

The top 10 best warm weather winter vacation destinations 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 – San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
No. 6 – Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina
No. 7 – San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California
No. 8 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land
No. 9 – Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona
No. 10 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

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Camp Mystic News

Camp Mystic proposes selling property as part of bankruptcy plan

Camp Mystic Files For Bankruptcy As First Anniversary Of Deadly Floods Approaches

Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Ribbons honor Camp Mystic flood victims and families.

The owners of Camp Mystic have proposed selling off the riverfront property as part of a bankruptcy plan, with hopes that a buyer will preserve the camp's “historic mission” following the death of 27 campers and counselors swept away by a 2025 flood.

The century-old private Christian girls' camp filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan on September 25 that would auction off the 749 acres (3 square kilometers) it owns and other assets.

The sprawling campus, nestled among rolling wooded hills on the banks of the Guadalupe River, had several single-story cabins that housed some of the youngest campers and a recreation hall near the riverfront. A second campus on elevated ground was not flooded.

The Eastland family has owned the camp for decades and initially sought to reopen this summer. But they faced fierce opposition from victims’ families and some state lawmakers, lawsuits, and legislative investigations into what went wrong.

A buyer would likely get a portion of the camp frozen in time. Families of the victims have fought to stop any demolition of damaged cabins and buildings and stop repairs as part of their lawsuits.

The bankruptcy plan said the owners expect a purchaser would be backed by a group of families that support the camp.

“Nothing in the plan requires any buyer to operate the property as a camp,” the filing said, “but the plan states an express preference, in determining the highest or otherwise best bid, for a buyer that will maintain the historic mission of the camp.”

Twenty-five campers and two counselors were killed when the river surged over its banks in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, 2025. Camp owner and director Richard Eastland was also killed. At least 136 people were killed along a several-mile stretch of the river.

Earlier this month, state police investigators sought search warrants for the electronic communications of the camp's owners, saying they could provide evidence of manslaughter, negligent homicide, child abandonment, or other crimes.

No charges have been brought.

A probe by state lawmakers determined the camp’s young and inexperienced counselors were not trained for floods and other emergencies. It said an earlier decision to evacuate could have saved every life. Most of the victims were under age 10, and some were attending camp for the first time.

The camp's bankruptcy proposal would have to be approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher M. Lopez. Officials with Camp Mystic did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Monday.

All creditors, including the families who have sued Camp Mystic over the deaths, will have a chance to respond to the plan.

“The Eastlands are now attempting to determine the future of the Camp Mystic property, but the victims' families including my clients, will fight to protect their rights and ensure any sale is fair and transparent,” said Tim Ferguson, attorney for the family of 8-year-old Mary Grace Baker, one of the campers who died.

“The Bakers intend to continue fighting for answers, accountability and justice for their daughter,” Ferguson said.

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