Where Is Cousins Beach? The Ultimate Guide To The Summer I Turned Pretty Filming Locations
Have you ever found yourself completely swept away by the sun-drenched, nostalgic charm of Cousins Beach? The fictional coastal town from Prime Video’s hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty feels so real you can almost smell the salt air and hear the seagulls. It’s the idyllic backdrop for the Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah’s coming-of-age story, a place where summers stretch forever and family bonds are forged in the sand. But here’s the burning question every fan asks: where is Cousins Beach? Is it a real place you can visit, or just a beautiful figment of author Jenny Han’s imagination? Join us as we explore Cousins Beach and all the filming locations of The Summer I Turned Pretty in the best guide you’ll find. We’re diving deep into the real-world spots that stand in for this magical locale, turning your fandom into a potential travel itinerary.
The truth is a delightful mix of literary inspiration and cinematic magic. While Cousins Beach is a fictional creation, its spirit is drawn from some of America’s most beloved coastal regions. The show, based on Jenny Han’s novel, masterfully blends these influences to create a setting that feels universally familiar yet uniquely special. So, pack your virtual bags—we’re about to uncover the real locations that bring Cousins Beach to life.
The Fictional Setting: Inspired by Cape Cod, The Hamptons, and The Outer Banks
The Massachusetts Connection: Where Cousins Beach Feels Like It Belongs
Although the series never explicitly states it, the fictional Cousins Beach is believed to be located in Massachusetts. The strongest evidence points to a setting on Cape Cod. This makes perfect sense. Jenny Han, the author of the original book series, wrote much of it while staying on Cape Cod. The peninsula’s quintessential New England coastal vibe—with its charming shingle-style houses, cranberry bogs, historic lighthouses, and a certain old-money, summer colony aesthetic—permeates the pages of the novels and the visuals of the show. The feel is less the glitzy, ultra-wealthy Hamptons and more the classic, family-oriented, slightly weathered beauty of Cape Cod. It’s a place where generations return to the same cottage, where the local seafood shack is a landmark, and where the ocean is a central character. This Cape Cod inspiration provides the foundational feeling of Cousins Beach: a tight-knit community, a hint of nostalgia, and a landscape shaped by the sea.
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A Blend of Iconic Coastlines
Creator and showrunner Jenny Han has confirmed that Cousins Beach is an amalgamation. It takes the classic, family-focused summer tradition of Cape Cod, mixes in the affluent, sprawling estates of The Hamptons (think the Fisher family’s impressive home), and adds a dash of the wild, barrier-island beauty of The Outer Banks with its wide, sandy beaches and dramatic dunes. This fusion allows the setting to resonate with viewers from various coastal backgrounds. It’s not a direct copy of any one place, but a love letter to the American summer beach town experience. This is why, even though Cousins Beach doesn't exist in real life, it feels so achingly real to fans. It captures the essence of a perfect summer escape.
The Real Magic: Filming in Wilmington, North Carolina
The North Carolina Stand-In: Wilmington and Surrounding Beaches
Here’s the fantastic twist: while Cousins Beach is "in" Massachusetts, the show was almost entirely filmed in North Carolina, specifically in and around Wilmington and Southport. The production team found the perfect canvas in the Cape Fear region. This area offers a stunning variety of landscapes—from historic downtown streets to pristine barrier islands—that convincingly double for a New England-style coast. The light, the architecture, and the laid-back atmosphere were just right. Wilmington, North Carolina, became the de facto home base for the cast and crew, and it’s where you can explore the most iconic spots.
Exploring Key Filming Locations Across the Area
Fans can embark on their own pilgrimage to see these places with their own eyes. The filming spanned several distinct areas, each contributing a different piece of the Cousins Beach puzzle.
Wrightsville Beach: This vibrant, family-friendly beach town just east of Wilmington served as the primary stand-in for the actual Cousins Beach shoreline. The wide, sandy beaches, the iconic Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, and the bustling central area around Water Street are featured heavily. You’ll recognize scenes of the teens walking along the beach, the Fisher family’s beach house (more on that below), and many of the casual hangout spots. The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) campus, located right in Wrightsville Beach, also makes several appearances, standing in for the college environment some characters navigate.
Carolina Beach & Kure Beach: Just south of Wilmington, these neighboring beaches provided additional coastal scenery. The Carolina Beach Lake Park and the historic Carolina Beach Pavilion are seen in background shots and community scenes, adding to the authentic beach town feel. The Fort Fisher State Historic Site at the tip of the peninsula, with its sprawling beaches and historic fort, was also used, providing a dramatic, windswept landscape for more poignant moments.
Downtown Wilmington: This historic port city is a filmmaking powerhouse (known as "Wilmywood") and its charming streets are integral to the show. Key locations include:
- The Bellamy Mansion: This stunning historic home on Market Street was used as the exterior for the Fisher family’s grand Cousins Beach house. Its majestic columns and sweeping lawn are instantly recognizable.
- The Riverfront & Riverwalk: Many scenes of the characters walking, talking, and enjoying the harbor views were shot along the Cape Fear River.
- Thalian Hall: This historic theater on 3rd Street appears in several background shots and event scenes.
- The Cow: A beloved local ice cream and burger spot on Wrightsville Avenue, this joint is a must-visit for fans, as it’s featured in the show.
- Various Downtown Streets: The cobblestone streets of the Historic District, particularly around 3rd Street, provide the perfect New England-esque urban backdrop for shopping, dining, and town events.
The Waterstone Community Connection
A particularly interesting detail for local fans is that the show was filmed in Wilmington, right where the Waterstone community calls home. Waterstone is a popular residential area in Wilmington. While not a specific filming location itself, this tidbit underscores how deeply the production was woven into the fabric of the city, using real neighborhoods and homes to ground the fictional story in authenticity.
Behind the Scenes: From Book to Screen in NC
Jenny Han’s Vision and the Location Scout’s Triumph
The journey from page to screen was a deliberate creative choice. While Jenny Han’s novel is steeped in her Cape Cod experiences, the production team, led by location scouts, needed a place that could offer the right look, logistical support, and financial incentives. North Carolina’s film tax credits are a major draw for productions like this. The team scouted up and down the East Coast but found that the Wilmington and Cape Fear region offered the most versatile and cost-effective package. They could shoot beach scenes, historic interiors, and modern downtowns all within a 30-minute drive. The result is a seamless visual tapestry that makes viewers believe they are watching a Massachusetts summer, when in reality, they’re watching a North Carolina one. It’s a testament to the power of filmmaking to create a believable world.
Planning Your Pilgrimage: A Fan’s Guide to Visiting the Locations
How to Tour the Filming Sites
Visiting these locations is a fantastic way to connect with the show. Here’s how to make the most of your trip:
- Start in Wrightsville Beach: Park near Johnnie Mercer’s Pier and walk the beach. Find the public access points that match scenes of the beach house. The area around Water Street is where you’ll feel the show’s beach town energy.
- Find the Fisher House: Head to Wilmington’s Historic District to see the Bellamy Mansion (310 Market St). Check visiting hours for tours. While you can’t go inside for the show’s layout, the exterior is a perfect photo op.
- Explore Downtown: Grab a bite at The Cow (3500 Wrightsville Ave). Stroll the Riverwalk and 3rd Street. Keep an eye out for other recognizable storefronts.
- Venture to Southport & Fort Fisher: A short drive south leads to the picturesque town of Southport (used for some port and downtown scenes) and the vast beaches at Fort Fisher.
- Use a Map: Before you go, search for "The Summer I Turned Pretty filming locations map" online. Dedicated fan sites and local tourism boards often have compiled lists and maps.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
- Best Time to Go: The weather is perfect from late spring to early fall. However, summer (June-August) will be crowded with beachgoers. Late spring (May) or early fall (September-October) offer milder crowds and still-great weather.
- Respect Privacy: Many homes used as filming locations are private residences. Always view from public spaces and be respectful.
- Check Local Schedules: Some locations, like the Bellamy Mansion or specific piers, have operating hours or may be closed for events.
- Combine with Other Attractions: Wilmington is full of history, great restaurants, and other film sites (from Dawson’s Creek to One Tree Hill). Make it a full vacation.
Addressing the Noise: Separating Fact from Fiction Online
In your search for "where is cousins beach,"" you might have stumbled upon unrelated results. A quick online scan shows that phrases like "Bobby Alonzo Cousins" refer to an unrelated individual with a similar last name, and terms like "group reels" or "beach group reels" point to social media trends, often on platforms like TikTok, where users create compilation videos. You may also see ads for merchandise like "Cousins Beach sign sweatshirts" or "baseball caps" sold by various online vendors (with SKUs like 1924639667 or 2063905264), or events like a "Cousins Maine Lobster food truck" visiting Newport Beach or Huntington Beach, CA on specific dates in 2026.
These are all unrelated to the show's setting. They are examples of internet search noise, fan-created content, merchandise, and local business promotions that happen to use the keyword "cousins" and "beach." The Cousins Maine Lobster food truck is a real, separate business that uses the name "Cousins" and travels to various California beaches. The arrest record for "Bobby Alonzo Cousins" is a completely unrelated legal matter from California. When researching, it’s crucial to add keywords like "filming location" or "Prime Video" to filter out this unrelated content and find the accurate information about the show's setting.
Conclusion: The Real Treasure is the Experience
So, where is Cousins Beach? The definitive answer is both satisfying and liberating. Cousins Beach is not a pinpoint on a map; it’s a feeling. It’s the fusion of Cape Cod’s timeless summer, The Hamptons’ grandeur, and The Outer Banks’ raw beauty, all captured through the lens in Wilmington, Southport, and the beaches of North Carolina.
The magic of the show is that it invites us to imagine our own Cousins Beach. For some, it’s the memory of a family cottage in Massachusetts. For others, it’s the feeling of any beach town where time slows down. The real-world filming locations give us a tangible connection to that feeling. You can walk the same boardwalks as Belly, see the same ocean views that framed Conrad and Jeremiah’s conversations, and sip a milkshake at a diner that might have been a backdrop for a pivotal scene.
Your pilgrimage to Wilmington’s Historic District, Wrightsville Beach’s shores, and the serene spots of Southport is more than a sightseeing tour. It’s a way to step into the world of the Belly, the Conrad, and the Jeremiah, to feel the summer magic that has captivated millions. The beach house may be a facade on a Wilmington street, and the cousins may be fictional, but the emotions, the memories, and the sense of place they evoke are powerfully real. That is the true location of Cousins Beach—right there in the heart of every fan who dreams of a summer that changes everything. Now, you know where to go to feel it for yourself.
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Cousins Beach: Where was The Summer I Turned Pretty filmed? The house
Cousins beach – Artofit
Cousins beach house – Artofit
