Feast your eyes

3 Dallas-area cities gobble up top spots among best U.S. places for Thanksgiving

Dallas even has its own Thanks-Giving Square.

Courtesy photo

Texans still looking for the best place to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast without breaking their banks might want to head to Plano, Irving, or Dallas. The three cities rank highly on a new list of the best places to go for Thanksgiving.

The study, published by WalletHub, compares the top 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics, including the cost of Thanksgiving dinner, number of delayed flights, and even forecast precipitation.

Atlanta, Georgia ranks No. 1 on the list, with Orlando, Florida; Las Vega, Nevada; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Gilbert, Arizona rounding out the top five.

Plano ranks No. 7 on the list, while Irving and Dallas took the ninth and 13th spots, respectively. Other North Texas cities that made the list include Garland (No. 24), Arlington (No. 44), and Fort Worth, which just barely makes it into the top 100, landing at No. 84.

Other cities around Texas to make the list are:

Corpus Christi (No. 25)
Laredo (No. 31)
San Antonio (No. 32)
Austin (No. 33)
Houston (No. 53)
El Paso (No. 64)
Lubbock (No. 85)

The average American spends about $301 during the five-day Thanksgiving period, according to a list of Thanksgiving fun facts compiled by WalletHub. Annually, Americans as a whole spend an estimated $835 million on Thanksgiving turkeys, with 46 million turkeys killed for the holiday.

In addition to the cities’ overall ranking, WalletHub revealed the cities’ rankings for the individual categories they were evaluated by. Five of those categories include Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions, Affordability, Safety and Accessibility, Giving Thanks, and Thanksgiving Weather Forecast.

Surely the big Cowboys game with Jonas Brothers' halftime show factors into the DFW "celebrations and traditions" score, right?

Dallas and Irving are tied at No. 4 on the list for having the best Thanksgiving Weather Forecast (which calls for a high of 61 this year, according to WFAA).

Other Dallas rankings include:

No. 13 for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
No. 18 for Affordability
No. 93 for Safety and Accessibility
No. 37 for Giving Thanks

No. 32-ranking San Antonio has these rankings on the list:

No. 46 for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
No. 2 for Affordability
No. 66 for Safety and Accessibility
No. 85 for Giving Thanks
No. 26 for Thanksgiving Weather Forecast

The state’s No. 33-ranking capital, Austin, had an average ranking for each category:

No. 41 for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
No. 19 for Affordability
No. 42 for Safety and Accessibility
No. 82 for Giving Thanks
No. 36 for Thanksgiving Weather Forecast.

The city of Houston ranked in the top 10 for Affordability but didn’t score highly in any other category:

No. 48 for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
No. 7 for Affordability
No. 88 for Safety and Accessibility
No. 58 for Giving Thanks
No. 43 for Thanksgiving Weather Forecast.

Fort Worth was in the top 5 for weather but hit the bottom 10 for safety:

No. 87 for Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions
No. 31 for Affordability
No. 95 for Safety and Accessibility
No. 52 for Giving Thanks
No. 4 for Thanksgiving Weather Forecast.

You can view the full list and find more information about the 100 best U.S. places for Thanksgiving here.

rankings wallethub holidays

Barkingham palace

Posh new club from LA plans to pamper pups near Dallas Love Field

Rendering courtesy of The Wags Club

The Wags Club, a canine boarding company from Los Angeles, is preparing for a Dallas debut.

Dallas’ latest luxury hotel boasts five-star service with staffers meeting guests’ every need at any hour. And it’s for the dogs. Literally. The Wags Club, a canine boarding company from Los Angeles, makes its Dallas debut Saturday, November 14 at 1740 Empire Central near Love Field airport.

Everyone working at Wags is trained in dog behavior, pet first aid, and, of course, hospitality.

“The Wags Club takes its cues from five-star hotels, bringing a level of hospitality unmatched in the dog boarding industry,” co-founder/CEO Abi De Silva says in a press release.

Dogs' days are cage-free, with temperament-matched playgroups and private play for dogs who prefer their own company. Overnight guests stay in one of 100 private suites, with staff on site all night.

De Silva says her family's dogs Noorie and Maya inspired the concept.

“We envisioned a resort where we could entrust them completely, a place where exceptional care meets thoughtful hospitality and every dog can vacation in style,” she says in the release.

For 15 years, The Wags Club in West Los Angeles has honored that promise, she says. The canine club's almost-400 Google reviews average 4.7 out of five stars. The owners plan to be as popular in Dallas by pairing "unparalleled amenities with a passionate team chosen for their expertise."

Dogs and owners will be able to tour the facility at the grand opening, an event for which Wags is rolling out a red carpet — again, literally. From 9 am-5 pm, dogs and their owners should arrive in style and pose for paparazzi-esque photos.

“Bow ties, tutus, tiaras, and matching dog-and-owner looks are encouraged,” the release says. “A professional photographer will capture every red-carpet arrival, and staff will lead tours of the private suites, play areas, and outdoor yards all day.”

The cuddly customers' photos are shot almost daily and shared, which their parents enjoy, if the LA Wags Club's Facebook page is any indication.

The Wags Club also will partner with Dallas-area rescue organizations, they say, and will offer special rates for dogs in foster care, "giving dogs awaiting their forever homes socialization, exercise, and expert care," says the release.

And for such luxe amenities, the prices are average, based on data from Dognition.

Wags day care runs $25-$40 a day, and boarding for one dog is $60 per night. Two dogs board for $55 per dog per night. Grooming services are also available.

dogsitter dog boarding dog grooming doggie day care

Feast your eyes

3 Dallas-area cities gobble up top spots among best U.S. places for Thanksgiving

Barkingham palace

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