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The Real Cousins Beach: Every 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Filming Location Revealed (Seasons 1-3)

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The Summer I Turned Pretty has captivated audiences with its dreamy, sun-soaked setting of Cousins Beach, a fictional haven that feels like the ultimate summer escape. As of December 22, 2025, with anticipation building for the final season, fans are more curious than ever about the actual places that bring Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah's story to life.

The secret to Cousins Beach's idyllic charm isn't found in Massachusetts' Cape Cod, which inspired the books, but in the coastal beauty of North Carolina. The majority of the series, spanning all three seasons, was filmed extensively across the Wilmington, NC, area, utilizing its stunning beaches, historic downtown, and charming coastal towns to create the perfect backdrop for the Fisher and Conklin families' drama.

Welcome to Cousins Beach: The North Carolina Coastal Backdrop

While the fictional town of Cousins Beach is meant to evoke the classic New England charm of the Cape Cod area, the production team chose the more accessible and visually versatile landscapes of North Carolina, primarily focusing on Wilmington and New Hanover County. This decision provided the show with the perfect blend of picturesque beaches, grand homes, and quaint downtown areas.

The Iconic Beaches: Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure Beach

The endless summer vibes and pivotal beach scenes—from bonfires to emotional walks—were captured across several beautiful, real-life beaches near Wilmington. These locations serve as the primary stand-ins for the fictional Cousins Beach shoreline:

  • Wrightsville Beach: Known for its pristine sand and clear waters, this beach was heavily used for many of the daytime beach shots and is a major tourist destination in the region.
  • Carolina Beach: This location provided a more vibrant, classic boardwalk feel, likely used for scenes involving the characters enjoying local attractions.
  • Kure Beach: Offering a slightly more rugged and natural coastline, Kure Beach contributed to the diverse look of the show's seaside settings.
  • Fort Fisher: Many of the night beach shots, including the memorable bonfire scenes, were filmed at Fort Fisher.

The Fisher Family Beach House

The centerpiece of the entire series is the magnificent Fisher family beach house, the place where Belly and her family spend every summer. The actual home is not easily accessible to the public, adding to its exclusive, almost mythical feel.

  • Location: The house is situated within a private, gated golf course community in Wilmington, North Carolina.
  • Design: The home's luxurious, airy, and classic coastal New England aesthetic was perfectly captured by the set design team, despite its Southern location.

Even the famous "Entering Cousins Beach" welcome sign, which marks the transition into Belly's summer world, was a real-world prop placed near the town of Southport, North Carolina, specifically for the show.

Exploring Cousins Town: Downtown Wilmington and Local Hotspots

Beyond the sand, the show utilizes Wilmington's historic and commercial areas to depict the town of Cousins, where the characters shop, eat, and socialize. The city's unique charm adds depth to the fictional coastal community.

The Cousins Beach Boardwalk and Riverwalk

Scenes showing Belly and her friends strolling through a bustling area or having deep conversations often take place along the Wilmington Riverwalk. This picturesque waterfront promenade, lined with shops and restaurants, is a key location for many emotional and scenic moments, including an emotional walk between Belly and Conrad.

Specific Local Businesses Used for Filming

To create an authentic town atmosphere, the production team incorporated several real-life Wilmington establishments into the show:

  • Bespoke Coffee: This downtown Wilmington coffee shop was used in Season 3 for a significant scene where Belly tells Taylor about her engagement to Jeremiah.
  • The Crackerneck: The fictional name for the country club where the debutante ball takes place is actually the Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington.
  • The Fat Pelican: A famous, quirky local bar that has been featured in the series.
  • The Old Wilmington Post Office: Used for exterior shots of the town's official buildings.
  • UNC Wilmington and Screen Gems Studios: While not a public location, the university's campus and the studios were crucial for interior and backlot filming of various scenes across all seasons.

Season 3 Filming Locations: North Carolina to Paris

Season 3, which covers the events of the final book, "We'll Always Have Summer," expands the geographical scope of the series significantly, moving beyond the familiar beaches of Cousins. This expansion was necessary to follow Belly's journey through college and her emotional escape.

Finch College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

In the final season, Belly attends Finch College, a pivotal setting in the book. The production team used a major real-life university to stand in for the fictional campus:

  • The Real Location: The campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) was used to film the college scenes.
  • Specific Scenes: Filming took place in July 2024, capturing Belly's memorable dormitory move-in and other campus life moments.

The European Escape: Paris, France

A major plot point in the final book involves a trip to Europe, and the show honors this by taking the production overseas. The last three episodes of the series feature a stunning change of scenery:

  • The City of Light: The concluding episodes were shot in Paris, France.
  • The Narrative Purpose: Belly heads to Paris to regroup and heal after a major life event involving Jeremiah, providing a beautiful, romantic, and dramatic backdrop for the series' climax.

The contrast between the familiar, comforting American beach town and the iconic, bustling European capital highlights the characters' growth and the major life transitions they face in the final chapter of their story. The blend of North Carolina's coastal charm and Paris's timeless elegance ensures that the final season delivers a visually rich and emotionally resonant experience.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Filming Entities Checklist

The production of The Summer I Turned Pretty utilized a wide range of real-world locations and entities to build the world of Cousins Beach. Here is a list of key places and entities that contribute to the show’s topical authority:

  • Cousins Beach (Fictional)
  • Wilmington, North Carolina (Primary Filming Location)
  • Wrightsville Beach
  • Carolina Beach
  • Kure Beach
  • Fort Fisher
  • Southport, North Carolina
  • New Hanover County
  • The Fisher Family Beach House
  • Wilmington Riverwalk
  • Downtown Wilmington
  • Bespoke Coffee (Season 3)
  • Cape Fear Country Club (The Crackerneck)
  • The Fat Pelican
  • The Old Wilmington Post Office
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Finch College)
  • Screen Gems Studios
  • Paris, France (Season 3)
  • Cape Cod (Book Inspiration)
  • Amazon Prime Video (Streaming Platform)
  • Jenny Han (Author/Show Creator)
  • Lola Tung (Belly Conklin)
  • Christopher Briney (Conrad Fisher)
  • Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah Fisher)
The Real Cousins Beach: Every 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Filming Location Revealed (Seasons 1-3)
where is the summer i turned pretty filmed
where is the summer i turned pretty filmed

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