San Diego Sand Castles
4306 Ocean Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109
When J. T. Estrela got laid off as a math teacher, he started his own school: sandcastle-building school. It’s unique in California. He uses Del Mar Beach (it has the finest sand, good for stickiness). For $140 (two people, up to $240 for seven), he’ll teach you over three hours to build anything from Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle to the Taj Mahal. “But mostly, people just want to learn to properly build their own fantasy with towers, arches, and always, for the kids anyway, a moat. Above all? It’s a real bonding experience.” Choose morning, afternoon, sunset.