Bay Area beaches packed Christmas Day <\/p>\n
Photojournalist Lucas Bogg reports<\/p>\n
CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. - Many people chose to spend their Christmas at one of the country's top-rated beaches. Clearwater Beach was crowded, and many visitors were from out of town.<\/p>\n
\"It is definitely better than being in negative weather,\" says Jonny Isenberg, who is visiting from Canada. \"Where we come from it is freezing cold right now, so it's a plus being in the sun right now.\"<\/p>\n
After a brief cold and wet stretch of weather leading up to Christmas Day, Mother Nature redeemed herself in a big way Wednesday, bringing sunny skies and the fifth-warmest Christmas Day temperatureto Clearwater Beach.<\/p>\n
\"Clearwater is a sunny place and beautiful beach,\" says Michael Krach.<\/p>\n
He and his wife, Mickey are in town from Madison, Wisconsin and they have a message for their friends back north: \"It's not terribly cold in Wisconsin right now, but we're telling them, 'Eat their hearts out. Merry Christmas!'\"<\/p>\n
Those visiting Clearwater Beach did have to pack their patience. The Clearwater Memorial Causeway had stop-and-go traffic most of the day, and most of the city parking lots were full. Most beachgoers tell FOX 13 News that it was completely worth it.<\/p>\n
\"Being here on Christmas is better than a physical present,\" says Jason Frank, who came with his family from London, England. \"This weather is awesome. The kids are having fun, so I'm just loving it.\"<\/p>\n
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Christmas Day means beach day when the temperature is 80 - FOX 13 Tampa Bay<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Bay Area beaches packed Christmas Day Photojournalist Lucas Bogg reports CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. - Many people chose to spend their Christmas at one of the country's top-rated beaches Continue reading