If you come to Hilton Head and bring kids along, then an absolute must-do is building a sandcastle. But if you’ve ever tried, you know it’s not the simplest thing in the world.
No worries. We’ve got some tips to get you building professional (well, maybe not professional, but pretty darned good) looking sandcastles in no time!
What you need: Sand, water, buckets, shovels, a few carving tools like a putty knife, decorations
Where to set up shop: Water is a necessity, so you don’t want to be too far from the ocean (the water gets a little heavy to lug) but you don’t want the tide to take out your structure mid-build either. Pick a flat location on solid packed sand and prep it with a few bucketfuls of water before you get started. Then create a big pile of sand and douse it with more water to create a platform for your creation (your back will thank you).
How to build: Start by building a central tower for your structure. Sand molds typically don’t work very well, so save your money. Instead, try the “pile of pancakes” method. Just using your hands create a thick pancake of very wet sand. After gently patting and leveling the pancake, add it to the structure. Repeat, making each pancake slightly smaller until it’s as tall as you’d like. Use your hands to shape your tower.
Keep on building as many towers as you want and then add walls to connect them. Build the walls by creating “bricks” of sand by gently shaking the wet sand from side to side between the towers. Stack the bricks until you get your wall tall enough.
Now, it’s time to put the finishing touches on your sandcastle. Plastic knives, butter knives or putty knives all make ideal shaping tools. A pro’s trick is to shave the sand rather than gauging holes in it. Think of sculptor creating their masterpiece. This technique takes a little longer, but is less likely to collapse.
Finally, decorate your work of art with shells, driftwood and other beach walk finds. If you want some inspiration, check out these sand sculptures.
Have you ever built a great sandcastle? Share your photos with us!
