Nearby Getaways

3 Texas cities rank among America's best summer vacation spots

Houston is one of the best summer vacation spots, along with Dallas and Austin.

Courtesy of Visit Houston

With the hot and humid weather, Texas isn't often thought of as a prime summer vacation destination. But three cities in the Lone Star State rank among the top 12 in the nation where you get the most bang for your travel buck, according to a new survey.

WalletHub compared 80 of the most populated metro areas across six categories, including travel costs and hassles, local costs, the number of attractions, weather, activities, and safety to determine the nation's best vacation spots.

Houston-The Woodland-Sugar Land comes in as the top vacation spot in Texas, ranking No. 7 in the nation, while Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is next at No. 8. Austin-Round Rock is No. 12.

San Antonio-New Braunfels ranks No. 38, El Paso is No. 40, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission is No. 42.

Houston and Dallas benefit from low travel costs and hassles, plus a large number of attractions. Even Houston's much-maligned weather ranks a relatively modest 26 out of the 80 areas surveyed.

Austin scores well for activities, as well as the number of attractions and their diversity. The weather there, however, scores worse than Houston, at No. 38.

San Antonio and McAllen rank in the top five for lowest local costs, while McAllen is in the bottom five for fewest attractions and activities.

Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orlando rank as the top three metros for wallet-friendly summer fun.

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PAWS-ITIVELY PAMPERED

Popular San Antonio doggy daycare opens new location in Alamo Ranch

Photo by Hayffield L on Unsplash

The award-winning Dogtopia has gained so much love from the local community thanks to its thoughtful design approach and programming.

Even dogs deserve a little pampering. Dogtopia, an innovative doggy daycare and spa in San Antonio, is growing their reach with the grand opening of a new Alamo Ranch location, with a fourth new location planned for Alamo Heights later this month.

The award-winning facility has gained so much love from the local community thanks to its thoughtful design approach and programming. All aspects of Dogtopia centers around providing the utmost care for your furry best friends. Dogs are separated by size and temperament into one of three playrooms to ensure the best daycare experience without causing any stress.

In addition to their daycare, Dogtopia also has boarding and grooming services for your companions. They have a firm belief that all dogs can benefit from doggy daycare, because it increases their socialization skills and lessens any repressed anxiety.

Every dog goes through an intake process consisting of a meet-and-greet session to view the dog’s paperwork, behavioral history, and their health. Thorough assessments are also made to distinguish any physical sensitivities a dog could have. The intake process is necessary for the safety of all dogs under Dogtopia’s care.

Dogtopia’s team members, dubbed “Canine Coaches,” are more than just playroom attendants. Every coach is required to complete a curriculum program designed by a registered canine behaviorist, all with the goal of the animals receiving the proper care and attention they need. The curriculum has been approved by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). That’s not all of their training; team members also complete canine behaviorist-designed training on body language, behavior, and health.

Dogtopia’s new Alamo Ranch location is now open at 11726 Alamo Ranch Parkway. Other locations in San Antonio include one in Stoke Oak and one on De Zavala Road. A fourth location in Alamo Heights is expected to open later in March.

More information about Dogtopia’s services can be found on dogtopia.com.

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