MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Tourists have flocked to Miami Beach and Hollywood Beach on Christmas to enjoy a walk outside and to spend a day on the sand and in the water.
7News cameras captured a crowded Ocean Drive, Wednesday afternoon.
According to some tourists, the mild temperatures and the ocean are what drew them to the area for the holiday.
“It’s good weather here,” Alex Bereznyak said. “It’s quite good temperature of water, and there’s interesting people here.”
Jeffery Holinka, the manager of the Ocean Seven Cafe, said this has been the largest Christmas crowd they have seen in several years.
“Three times as many people, literally,” Holinka said, “and for Christmas, I didn’t think that so many people would be celebrating Christmas in South Beach, but we’re jam packed. Literally everywhere you go there’s no parking spots, not enough tables, not enough chairs. We’re running out of glasses.”
The Hollywood Boardwalk could also be seen filled with people for the holiday.
“We are from Argentina,” Federico, a tourist, said. “We have family here, so we came to have a holiday with them.”
“Yeah, I love it. There’s a lot of decorations, ornaments, so even though it isn’t snowing, it’s already Christmas-y so yeah,” Sophie Hoelzel, an exchange student, said. “Just swimming and laying on a beach.”
“Yeah, I think that’s the most Florida thing we’ve done,” Miro Weissenberg, who is visiting from Germany, added.
When asked what makes Miami Beach special on Christmas, David Bunevich, a self-described snowbird, said, “Christmas is like a perfect time to just walk and relax on a beautiful, sunny day.”
“It’s very nice,” Lang Lois, who is visiting from Canada, said. “I like the lights, and the people, and the fun.”
For others like Christopher Hero, who is visiting from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they came to the area to escape the snow.
“Bit ballers, shot callers, we’re here to surf, but the surf isn’t that good right now, and we’re going to catch some fish later today,” Hero said.
“We come down every year since I was born, so every Christmas we spend down here, way better than up north in the snow. It’s terrible up there,” tourist Connor Sheean said.
7News cameras also captured people soaking in the sun on the beach and swimming in the water.
“Santa Claus was very good,” beachgoer Ana Santiago said. “Even though I was on the naughty list from the get go, but I guess he forgot. It can’t get better than this. It just can’t.”
Drivers heading to South Beach should expect to encounter delays because Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year.
Miami Beach Police are advising visitors not to leave their valuables unattended when they enter the water.
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