The giant sand dune

About 90 minutes up the coast, in the northern part of Malibu (that is, past all the celebrity estates), there's a giant sand dune. To give you an idea of the size of this single slope of sand, look closely at the center of the picture above. You'll see the small speck that is my daughter.

The dune used to be deserted, but in recent years, it's become a popular spot for kids young and old. You can climb to the top, then run (or roll) back to the bottom.

Advice from a sand dune

Soak up the sunshine
Stay loose
Keep moving
Embrace winds of change
Make positive ripples
Don't get carried away
Show your true grit!
~ Ilan Shamir

That's a lot of sand!

Three hundred tons of sand is what the Orange County Fair boasts holding for its annual sand sculpture creation. Professionals are brought in to do the work while the fair is going on so people can watch the magic being made. Here, a few forced volunteers stand in front to show you how big it really is.