12 Sandboxes Worth Sticking Your Toes Into

Playing in sand is fun for kids and adults. If you don't live near a beach, here's how to bring the sand to you.

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Pirate Ship Sandbox

The Ahoy Wooden Play Boat is the perfect sandbox for imaginative and adventurous kids. They can pretend to captain their own pirate ship with the playhouse’s wheel, and they can dig for buried treasure in the sandpit. The boat extends and collapses to hide and cover the sandpit. And the ship’s sail unfolds to block kiddos from the sun.

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Construction Site Sandbox

The Little Tikes Big Digger Sandbox will thrill kids who love construction. They can drive toy trucks up the ramp and pretend to be on a real jobsite. A working excavator lets them dig holes and scoop up sand.
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Picnic Table Sandbox

If you kids don’t want to come inside for lunch time, this picnic table sandbox is the solution. It folds shut to function as a regular picnic table when it’s time to eat. Then, it folds open to let kids pick up right where they left off. The built-in patio umbrella provides ample sun protection.
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Rooftop Sandbox

This sandbox is atop an Asian-inspired home in Venice Beach, California. An uninspired area of the home “became magical with a fenced-in virtual Venice Beach playground for the kids, featuring a large, deep sandbox and potted palms,” says Laura Morton.

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Cedar Hexagon

For less than $100 you get the precut wood, hardware, liner and top cover for this classic sandbox. It takes practically no time to set up and kids will enjoy playing in the backyard for hours and hours.

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Natural-Looking Sandbox

This unobtrusive sandbox comes assembled and blends right in with its surroundings. The sandbox lid keeps out rain, debris and cats so the sand is fresh and clean for every play date!

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Cabana Sandbox

If you don’t want your kids sitting out in the sun all day while they play, this sandbox is for you. A shade canopy ensures kids are protected on three sides and overhead. Two rollup windows provide ventilation and three storage bins are included.

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Crabby Sandbox

How cute is this? You never have to worry about splinters and it has lots of great reviews. This sandbox makes a great gift for kids who like DIY.

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Indoor Sandbox

No place for an outdoor sandbox? Your kids can still have fun playing with sand with this kinetic sand set. This sand is moldable, sticks to itself and never dries out, making it actually fun for all ages!

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life size zen garden sandbox
T photography/Shutterstock

Zen Garden Sand

In the sixth century A.D., Zen Buddhist monks created the first zen gardens to aid meditation. Today, those who like carefully controlled settings with raked sand or rocks and precisely clipped shrubs find zen gardens appealing. You can even purchase special sand for zen gardens. Add a relaxing water feature for ambiance.

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Tent Sandbox

This is the epitome of simple DIY: A wood-frame sandbox with two stakes and fabric to create a tent! Kids can pretend they’re camping, or hang out inside like it’s a clubhouse. Complete how-to-build instructions can be found on tarynwhiteaker.com. Alternatively, add shade to your deck or patio and place a sandbox in the shaded area.

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Extreme Sandbox

If you’ve always wanted to operate full-size diggers and dumpers like the toy ones you had as a kid, Extreme Sandbox is for you! Extreme Sandbox is a family owned and operated business that gives people the opportunity to “play” with construction equipment in a controlled environment. Corporate and social groups go for bonding and fun. In 2016, Extreme Sandbox was on Shark Tank and their business continues to grow.

Elizabeth Manneh
Elizabeth is an experienced freelance writer, specializing mainly in digital health & transformation, health & wellness, and education & learning. She's been published on ReadersDigest.com, Paysa.com, The Family Handyman, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and The Good Men Project. She was also a regular contributor to Love Live Health and Daily Home Remedy. Elizabeth is a retired primary school principal and education consultant, with a continuing passion for education and learning.