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Houston soars in Forbes’ top 10 best cities for summer travel

We're as surprised as you are.

Looks like people from all over the country will be flocking to Houston this summer — at least according to a new report by Forbes Advisor.

The report listed the best and worst cities for summer travel and Dallas fared surprisingly well, coming in as the No. 10 best summer travel destination in the nation.

The study, published June 1, compared 43 of the most populous U.S. cities across 16 metrics in three major categories: City experience, air travel experience, and driving experience.

Houston earned an overall score of 36.57 out of a total 100 possible points. That puts the Bayou City between No. 9 Chicago (36.04 points) and No. 11 Baltimore (36.86 points) in the rankings. Jacksonville, Florida earned a perfect (and dreadful) score of 100 points to solidify itself as the No. 1 worst vacation destination for summer travel.

This is how Forbes breaks down Houston's' ranking across the three key dimensions:

18.16 – City experience score
44.73 – Air travel experience score
43.84 – Driving experience score

"Visitors to Houston enjoy the lowest median hotel price during the summer ($122.33 per night) and the city’s two major airports reimburse the second highest percentage of summer property loss and damage claims in full (52.4 percent on average)," the report said.

Bad news for Big D

Sadly, our neighbors to the north didn't fare as well. Dallas came in as the No. 13 worst summer travel destination in the nation with an overall score of 57.20 points.

Major factors that brought down Dallas' scores include the city's extreme weather (AKA, the unforgiving Texas heat) combined with a higher-than-normal number of damage claims at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, according to the report.

"Dallas’ two major airports have the sixth highest number of property loss and damage claims during the summer (1.3 per 100,000 domestic passengers)," the report said. "The city also has the seventh highest number of extreme temperature days in the summer (76 on average)."

San Antonio (No. 20) and Austin (No. 24) also fared better than Dallas in the overall rankings, showing that Central Texas is a far better place to be during the summer when it comes to statewide vacations.

Texas travelers may want to consider going out of state to places like Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was ranked the No. 1 best summer travel destination in the U.S.

The top 10 best U.S. summer travel destinations are:

No. 1 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
No. 2 – Long Beach, California
No. 3 – Washington, D.C.
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – Omaha, Nebraska
No. 6 – San Diego, California
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Columbus, Ohio
No. 9 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 10 – Houston, Texas

Forbes Advisor determined each city's ranking based on travel experience data from Expedia, Tripadvisor, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, AAA, The U.S. Census Bureau, and more. Metrics included a city's crime rate; median hotel prices during the summer season; the percentage of delayed, canceled, or diverted flights during the summer; among others.

The full report can be found on forbes.com.

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Here's your shot

Dude Perfect teams up with Omni Dallas hotel for new tricked-out suite

Dude Perfect Suite, Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

The Omni PGA Frisco Resort now has a Dude Perfect-branded suite.

Dude Perfect fans now have their shot to live like the sports-comedy group sensation: The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa has partnered with Frisco-based Dude Perfect to debut a themed hotel suite packed with sports games, branded décor, and interactive activities overlooking the Fields Ranch golf course.

According to a release, the new Dude Perfect Suite is now open at the resort and available for bookings, but only for a limited time.

Located on the third floor, the suite includes a balcony overlooking the 10th hole at Fields Ranch East and is designed to accommodate six to eight guests. The setup, designed for families, includes one king bed, four twin bunk beds, and a pull-out sofa, with separate spaces geared toward both kids and adults.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Dude Perfect Suite So much fun in one room.Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

The room leans heavily into the Dude Perfect "brand" - yes, there are spots for trick-shots. Sporty features include:

AstroTurf accents in the living room and bunk bedroom
A PlayStation gaming setup with leather gaming chairs
Mini basketball hoops and magnetic dart boards
Sports challenge games and soft-launch toys inspired by Dude Perfect stunts
A flexible game table for family activities
Sneaker-themed wallpaper in the bunk room
Selfie backdrops and oversized wall graphics
Dude Perfect-branded décor including throw pillows, towels, water bottles, and logo installations
In-room merchandise available for purchase, including hats, books, games, and water bottles

“This partnership gave us the opportunity to create an experience that feels larger than life for kids without compromising the level of comfort and quality parents expect from Omni PGA Frisco Resort,” say Jeff Smith, vice president and managing director at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, in the release. ”Collaborating with Dude Perfect, a brand that shares our roots in sports and community, allows us to reimagine the family getaway in a bold and memorable way.”

Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Dude Perfect Suite The suite has Astroturf, bunk beds, and overlooks the Fields Ranch golf course.Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Dude Perfect, founded in 2009 by five college friends (Tyler Toney, Cory Cotton, Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones) who built a following through trick-shot videos and sports content, has grown into one of the largest sports entertainment brands in the world. Their YouTube channel has become the biggest sports account on YouTube, with 62 million subscribers, and the group has garnered more than 18 billion views across platforms, with featured celebrities and athletes like Steph Curry, Serena Williams, Luka Doncic, Caitlin Clark, and CeeDee Lamb.

They've since expanded into a diversified media company encompassing video content, popular simulcasts for professional sports (like the NFL on Amazon), a best-selling toy in Walmart, and live tours. They also recently helped develop a construction-themed theme park in Grapevine.

"Partnering with Omni gives us the opportunity to bring the Dude Perfect version of sports, play, and competition for families to enjoy in the real world," says Andrew Yaffe, CEO of Dude Perfect. "Omni shares our belief that the best entertainment is interactive, epic, and built for families. Together, we’re creating something that brings the Dude Perfect experience to fans in a new way."

The Dude Perfect Suite package is available through December 2027 and includes breakfast and a resort credit for registered guests. The shot to live like a Dude won't come cheap for most folks: According to the website, rates start around $1,200 per night.

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