dallas the beautiful
Dallas shines as one of America's best places to be this 4th of July
Fourth of July is upon us, and Dallas is just the place to be, according to a new study that names Big D one of the best places in the nation to celebrate the holiday.
Personal finance website WalletHub recently released a list of the best and worst places to celebrate July Fourth this year, and Dallas outshines the rest of the Lone Star State — and most of the U.S. — coming in as the sixth best place to be on Independence Day.
The site graded each city on its celebrations, affordability, attractions and activities, safety and accessibility, and — always crucial — weather.
Dallas, where there are dozens of events and fireworks extravaganzas to choose from, ranks fifth in celebrations, 10th in affordability, 39th in weather, 41st in attractions and activities, and 58th in safety and accessibility.
WalletHub isn't the only one taking notice of Dallas this summer. Travel site Priceline deems Dallas the country's No. 2 hot spot for millennials to spend the Fourth of July, as well as the second most affordable destination, based on holiday hotel bookings. Houston takes the No. 1 spot on both lists.
No other North Texas city comes close to Dallas on the WalletHub list. Fort Worth ranks No. 33, Plano places at No. 46, Irving follows at No. 52, Arlington ranks at No. 77, and Garland rounds it out at No. 80.
In Texas' other major metros, Austin is second statewide (No. 26), followed by Houston (No. 27), and San Antonio (No. 45).
According to the National Retail Federation, 86 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Independence Day this year, with 61 percent expecting to do so with a cookout, barbecue, or picnic gathering, and households will spend $6.7 billion on just food observing the holiday.
A lot of that money will be spent in New York City, which tops the WalletHub list, ranking first in attractions and activities and second in both celebrations and safety and accessibility.