We’re always looking for ways to have fun at Dreams Resorts & Spas and our sand castle building contests have become a favorite activity for our Explorer’s Club kids.  So we’ve decided to share with you some of our favorite tips and tricks to building a sand castle fit for a king!

Here is a list of the supplies you will need:

• A shovel
• Sand castle carving tools
• Buckets
• Sunscreen

The most important part of building a sand castle is building the foundation. When choosing a location for your castle, pick a spot that is just the right distance from the water to keep waves at bay. Water plays a key role in the sturdiness of the castle so easy access to it is important. When you’ve finally found your perfect spot, dig a shallow hole in the sand until you hit the water table. Having a moat around the finished castle will help to keep the waves from washing it away.

Now, it’s time to start building! Heavily pack wet sand into a structure of pillars that will form the corners of your castle. Then pack sand into bricks and stack the bricks to form the walls of your castle. Now that your foundation is complete, the fun part begins!

After you’ve packed and stacked your sand, it’s time to get creative! Use your carving tools to give the castle its final smooth shape. This is where artistic skill comes in handy (so enlist the help of Mom and Dad if you need too!) Be sure to add fun details like bricks, steps and shingles. Even try your hand at creating a sand castle prince or princess!

We hope you get the chance to create your own castles out of the beautifully shimmering sands of our beaches at Dreams Resorts & Spas. Until then, give these tricks a try in your local playground’s sand box!