Going to the beach usually means leaving behind our favourite movies, video games, and TV shows in favour of, you know, being outside. But these amazing sand sculptures prove that sometimes, the hot, bright world of the beach can incorporate a little ET, Super Mario and Monty Python.

As well as demonstrating serious sand-sculpting skills, some of these pics come from unlikely places (when you're thinking "beach-side sculpture competition, England and Finland may not be the first places that pop into your head). If you can't get away from your desk today, let these pictures of sandy geek genius keep you warm:

Monty Python - 2012 Sand Sculpture Festival, Weston-Super-Mare, England

Lord Of The Rings - 2011 Burgas Municipality Festival of Sand Sculptures, Bulgaria

Pac-Man - 2012 Sand Sculpture Festival, Weston-Super-Mare, England

Super Mario - 2012 Sand Sculpture Festival, Weston-Super-Mare, England

E.T. - 2007 Hiekkalinna Sandcastle Lappeenranta, Finland

Alien Vs. Bender - 2012 Windermere Sand Sculpture Classic, Port Angeles, Washington (Grand Prize Winner)

R2D2 & C3P0 - Sand World Contest, Travemuende, Germany

Bonus sculpture: Darwin and evolution, 2009, in honour of his 200th birthday

For more great sand sculptures, check out this post at Mental Floss.

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Going to the beach usually means leaving behind our favourite movies, video games, and TV shows in favour of, you know, being outside...