A castle built of sand is not meant to last, but the memories you make building one with your family will last forever.
Sandcastles are so much fun to build! It can be as simple as a bucket of sand turned upside-down, or as complicated as a detailed castle with turrets and spires. Whichever kind of castle suits you, we have some tips for building your masterpiece.
First, you will need simple tools. You probably have these at home, but you can also purchase fun sandcastle building kits at most stores in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
- Plastic shovel
- Small bucket
- Large bucket with hole cut in the bottom
- Spatula to make smooth surfaces
- Drinking straw to blow away excess sand
- Pencil or something similar to draw designs such as shingles, bricks and windows
The experts say to dig your moat first and pile the sand in the middle. Make a bowl in the top of your pile and pour a large bucket of water into the bowl. Pack the sand as the water seeps into it. Next – here’s the fun part – jump on it! Keep jumping until it’s compressed.
Now it’s time to mix your “concrete.” Add equal parts sand and water to a bucket – it should be wet and sloppy. Turn your bucket with the hole in the bottom upside down and fill it with your sand concrete to make your foundation. For your towers, make pancakes out of your sand concrete and stack them on your foundation.
You can repeat this process for as many towers as you would like. To create the shape, start at the top and work your way down using your spatula to sculpt pointed roofs and walls. Let your imagination run wild! Use the pencil to draw the windows, doors, shingles and bricks. To keep it clean, use the straw to blow away loose sand.
After you complete your majestic castle, make sure all of the holes you dug are filled in. Don’t forget to take pictures of your creation! As you and your family leave the beach, pack all of your tools and trash and Leave Only Footprints where you’ve been.