4 Rules of Castle-building

Use moist sand. Squeeze a ball of sand in your hand for a few seconds. “If the ball stays together when you roll it around in your palm, it’s perfect sand for a castle,” says Justin Gordon, an award-winning professional sand sculptor in Massachusetts. “The best place to find this sand is below the tide line,” says Gordon.

Start with a densely packed mound of sand. To get the best density, build up the mound gradually: Add 6 inches of sand, pack down firmly with your fists, then pour half a bucket of water on top. (You can never add too much water; any excess will just drain out.) Repeat until you’ve reached your desired height. Continue reading →