SUMMERTIME blues

Dallas-Fort Worth arrives at surprising spot among top summer travel destinations

Cool Thursdays Concert Series at Dallas Arboretum

Cool Thursdays concerts at the Dallas Arboretum are among the coolest events of summer.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum

Dallas-Fort Worth recently racked up more than a dozen accolades at the 2023 Texas Travel Awards. But a new survey reveals it's not necessarily such a hot travel destination this summer.

DFW comes in at a middle-of-the-road No. 45 in WalletHub's recent 2023 Best Summer Travel Destinations report.

The report compared 100 of the largest metro areas in America across 41 metrics, including number of attractions.

DFW scored an overall rating of 52.56 out of 100. Broken down by category, the Metroplex ranked 86th in "Travel Costs & Hassles;" 32nd in "Local Costs;" 20th in "Attractions;" 41st in "Weather;" 27th in "Activities;" and 50th in "Safety."

Taking the top spot in Texas was San Antonio, at No. 11, with Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown at No. 14. Behind Austin and San Antonio in the 2023 rankings is El Paso (No. 18), then Houston (No. 38). After 45th ranked DFW came Corpus Christi (No. 62), and McAllen (No. 86).

Dr. Susan Weidmann, assistant professor in the department of recreational management and physical education at Appalachian State University, said in the report that summer 2023 is going to be a “good season for travel” despite recent economic downturns that have many worried about a recession.

“Coming out of Covid, I think many people have taken these last few years to really evaluate what they want out of life, and for those that love travel, I think they have probably put it at the top of their list of things to do,” she said. “As far as economics are concerned, many may have saved their traveling money from the last multiple years, so will have money to spend. That being said, after the airline chaos of last year, many people may be thinking about domestic travel over the long-haul, just to alleviate many of the concerns that airlines, especially in Europe, are still grappling with, such as reduced staffing leading to flight cancellations.”

Weidmann predicts the time period between July and early August will be the most popular season for National Parks, like Texas’ Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains.

Despite none of them being in Texas, the top 10 destinations in WalletHub’s report are all popular cities worth a glance in sun-friendly states like Hawaii, New York, and Florida.

The top 10 best summer destinations are:

No. 1 – Atlanta
No. 2 – Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 3 – Washington, D.C.
No. 4 – Wichita, Kansas
No. 5 – New York City
No. 6 – Chicago
No. 7 – Tampa, Florida
No. 8 – Orlando, Florida
No. 9 – Richmond, Virginia
No. 10 – Springfield, Missouri

travel summer reports wallethub

an architect's dream

This stunning steel house is the No. 1 most 'wishlisted' Airbnb in Texas

Robert Bruno Steel House Airbnb in Ransom Canyon, Texas

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

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A stunning architectural paradise just minutes outside of Lubbock is drawing attention as the most sought-after Airbnb property in Texas.

The vacation rental platform's 2026 list of the most "wishlisted" listings in the U.S. surveyed over 2,000 people to find which properties "offer a unique experience for every type of adventurer across all 50 states." More than half of all respondents said uniquely designed listings would attract them to previously overlooked destinations.

The Lone Star State's most desirable — and most fascinating — Airbnb listing is Architectural Marvel: Robert Bruno Steel House, a futuristic 2,200-square-foot three-story piece of art. Last year, the most wishlisted property was a shipping container treehouse in North Texas.

The structure was built and designed by sculptor and Texas Tech University professor Robert Bruno in 1973, but it wasn't quite finished by the time Bruno died in 2008 at the age of 63. The famous building and its history was extensively documented by Texas Monthly in 2022.

"The Robert Bruno Steel House is a one of a kind house and you will never see anything like it," the listing says. "Enjoy the beautiful sunrise on the balcony and the stunning sunset from the large windows."

Robert Bruno Steel House living room Experience the views from the comfort of the living room.Photo courtesy of Airbnb

The Steel House is a 20-minute drive east from Lubbock and about five hours from Dallas, located near Lake Ransom Canyon and offering beautiful views of the water.

The listing says it can accommodate up to eight guests across three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and a spacious living room, and it offers in-unit washer and dryers for extended stays. Guests might become awestruck at the home's organic and unconventional design, the flood of natural light coming through stained glass windows, the sweeping staircases, and more.

"I first discovered this house in the mid[-]90s from an old 80s art magazine," one reviewer said. "This is truly a very rare sculptural an[d] architecture marvel to be able to stay in. The new interiors artfully compliment the design and are comfy. The view in the canyon is splendid through the windows. It was a true treasure and I’m glad it’s open to the public to be shared."

Robert Bruno Steel House bedroom Two of the Steel House bedrooms have queen size beds, while the third bedroom has a king.Photo courtesy of Airbnb

The property also boasts an abundance of local wildlife, such as deer and two great horned owls — which also means drones are prohibited on the premises for their protection.

Two-night minimum stays at the Robert Bruno Steel House in May 2026 start at about $585 per night, according to the listing.

travel airbnb texas vacations lubbock art