How To Build a Cool Sand Castle

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A beachfront home may be out of your price range, but you can always build yourself a swanky sand castle.
Added July 21, 2008

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You Will Need

Sand
A shovel
A bucket
Bottomless circular containers of varying sizes
Sculpting tools, like plastic utensils, paintbrushes, melon ballers, etc.
A spray bottle

Step 1.
Pick a good spot

Pick a good spot. You want to be near enough to the ocean that you’ll have easy access to water, but not so close that high tide will destroy your masterpiece. The best spot is just above where the dark sand turns lighter.
Step 2.
Build a foundation

Wet an area of sand large enough for the castle you want to build. Pile buckets of sand on it, wet the sand, and tamp it down. Repeat until you have a firm foundation.
Keep a spray bottle of water handy so you can keep your sand moist; wet sand is the key to castle building!
Step 3.
Start making towers

Start making towers with the help of your bottomless molds. Place the largest in the center of your foundation, fill it with very wet sand packed down as hard as you can. Place progressively smaller containers on top until you have a satisfactory wedding cake-like structure.
Step 4.
Carefully remove the molds

When all the molds are in place, carefully remove them.
Step 5.
Build a wall around the castle

Build a wall around the castle by stacking little piles of wet sand. Smooth the sides and tops with the bottom of your shovel.
Step 6.
Dig out archways

Take a plastic knife and gently cut into the wall to create a few archways.
Use a plastic fork with the middle prongs removed to put the finishing touches on columns.
Step 7.
Add architectural details

Use your sculpting tools to carve out architectural details like staircases, windows, turrets, and doors.
The town of Myrtle Beach built a 43-foot-tall sand castle in 2007 to attract visitors to the seaside resort.