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Popular Christmas Day activities
Two options that are always open in Florida on Christmas Day are the movies and the beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - While most businesses are closed on Christmas, there are a select few that are always open: the beach and movie theatres.
"We fished this morning and kayaked this afternoon and now we’re at the beach," said Jan Massey, who is visiting Florida from Virginia.
For some, the beach itself is the perfect gift.
"This little one over here. She says all I want for Christmas is going to the beach," said Pablo Rosa, who lives in Orlando. "We live in Florida so we have to take advantage that we can come over here and it’s 60-something degrees out and just bask in the sun."
At New Smyrna Beach, people spent the afternoon biking, running and building sandcastles. After a few rainy days and the morning opening gifts, it was time to get out. Rosa said that "We live in Florida so we have to take advantage that we can come over here and it’s 60-something degrees out and just bask in the sun."
Others spent Christmas seeking out a different kind of star.
"We came out to see Star Wars," said Amber Smith, who was visiting the area from Chicago.
The force was quite strong at the AMC Theatre in Altamonte Springs as families make the movies a regular part of the holiday.
"There’s not too many options today: it's either movies or out to eat somewhere so we decided to go to the movies," said Mike Hibben, who was visiting from Virginia.
Families are making new traditions outside the home on Christmas Day, whether it's catching a movie or catching waves.
"The last couple years we’ve become more Christmas movie people. We’re all together. It’s one of the only times we’re all going to go to a movie together," one movie go-er said. Another said that "It’s absolutely marvelous. It’s what you do you know."