Businesses, Spring Breakers See 2012 as a Success

As spring break seasons go, businesses in the Tampa Bay area say it's going to be hard to beat spring break 2012.

"This one has been fabulous,” said Lisa Mirochna of Crabby Bill's. “We've had great people down, lots of business, everybody has been happy. It's been one of the best we've had.”

It was hard to find a seat on the patio of Crabby Bill's on Sunday as the crowds just kept coming.

Vacationers say that's not the only place that's packed.

"It has been so crowded, actually the line or cars and traffic that I have had to deal with instead of the regular 20 to 30-minute commute it's turned into an hour to two hours," said Kristin Muckleroy of Tennessee.

Spring breakers say the long wait in the car is well worth it.

"It didn't stop me. We still came and we still relaxed and the ocean still sounds the same," Muckleroy said.

Several Clearwater businesses say this is one of the best spring break seasons they've seen in years.

So why the increase?

It's not altogether clear.

Mirochna said she thinks the BP oil spill scared off the crowds last year, and now that the threat of oil is long gone the crowds are back bigger than ever, and she couldn't be happier.

"Everybody needs to let go and have a little fun, and so you know you just have to have faith that they're going to be down here and they are," she said.

Despite gas hovering around $4 a gallon, Micaila Povuda and her friends drove all the way down from Michigan.

They say they didn't ever consider going anywhere else because when you think spring break, you think Florida.

"It's absolutely beautiful, as you can see, it's very nice weather," Povuda said.

The packed beaches are certainly a sight for sore eyes for businesses up and down the coast.

The travel site Orbitz says Florida ranks No. 1 as the desired spring break destination this year.

Florida cities dominate their list of top 10 places to go.

Orlando ranked No. 1, Ft. Lauderdale was No. 4, Ft. Myers is No. 8 and Tampa is No. 9.