You know that feeling when you're watching a show and the setting feels so real you can almost smell the salt air? That's the magic of The Summer I Turned Pretty. It’s got people everywhere asking one specific question: where does The Summer I Turned Pretty take place?
It’s Cousins Beach.
But here is the kicker—you won’t find it on a map of the United States. Not a real one, anyway. If you plug "Cousins Beach" into your GPS, you’re going to end up disappointed or maybe at a random seafood shack that just happens to have a similar name. It’s a fictional town. Author Jenny Han, who wrote the original book trilogy, basically stitched together a "greatest hits" of the American East Coast to create the perfect summer escape.
The Mystery of Where Does The Summer I Turned Pretty Take Place
If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ve probably spent way too much time looking at the architecture of the Fisher house. Is it the Hamptons? Is it Cape Cod? Maybe the Outer Banks?
Honestly, it’s all of them.
Jenny Han has been pretty open about the fact that Cousins Beach is a total mosaic. When she was writing the books, she drew inspiration from different coastal spots. Think of the upscale, preppy vibe of Martha's Vineyard mixed with the laid-back, rugged dunes of North Carolina. It’s meant to be a universal summer home for anyone who grew up spending their July 4th near the Atlantic.
The show, however, needs a physical location to film. While the story is set in this mythical version of a New England-meets-Mid-Atlantic town, the cameras are actually rolling down south.
Wilmington: The Real Cousins Beach
If you want to walk the same sand as Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah, you need to head to Wilmington, North Carolina.
Wilmington is basically the Hollywood of the East Coast. It’s where One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek lived. It has that specific coastal charm that translates perfectly to a coming-of-age drama. The production team uses several spots around the Wilmington area to piece together the world of Cousins.
First, there’s Wrightsville Beach. This is where a lot of the quintessential water scenes happen. It’s got that vibrant, blue-green water and the wide sandy stretches that look incredible on a 4K screen. Then you have Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. If you remember the boardwalk scenes—the lights, the junk food, the feeling of a humid summer night—you’re looking at the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. It’s got that old-school Americana vibe that feels like it’s frozen in time, which fits the nostalgic tone of the show perfectly.
The actual house, though? That’s a private residence in a place called Porter's Neck.
It’s a massive, stunning property that sits right on the water. It’s funny because in the show, the house feels like it’s in its own isolated bubble of privilege and heartbreak. In reality, it’s part of a very nice, gated community. You can’t just wander onto the porch and wait for a Fisher brother to bring you a drink, unfortunately.
Why the Location Matters for the Story
Setting isn’t just a backdrop in this series. It’s a character.
The specific "vibe" of where the show takes place is what fuels the conflict. It’s a place of tradition. The debutante balls, the country clubs, the bonfire rituals—these are all things that feel very specific to a certain type of East Coast wealth. If the show took place in Malibu, the energy would be totally different. It would be about surfing and celebrity.
In Cousins, it’s about legacy.
It’s about the fact that Susannah and Laurel have been coming to this specific house for decades. That history is baked into the floorboards. When Belly asks where does The Summer I Turned Pretty take place, she’s not just asking for a zip code. She’s looking for the place where she finally grows up.
The Cape Fear Connection
Wait, there’s more to the Wilmington choice than just pretty sunsets.
The Cape Fear River runs through Wilmington, providing a different kind of water scenery than the open ocean. You’ll see the downtown Wilmington Riverwalk used for some of the "town" scenes. The cobblestone streets and the moss-draped trees give it a slightly more mature, grounded feel than just a beach town. It’s where the characters go when they need to escape the bubble of the summer house.
Interestingly, fans have spotted the cast at local Wilmington staples like The Workshop, which is a cool coffee shop that sells shark teeth. It’s these little local flavors that seep into the production. Even though they are calling it "Cousins," the soul of the North Carolina coast is everywhere.
Spotting the Landmarks
If you're planning a pilgrimage, you have to be smart about it.
- The Fat Pelican: Located in Carolina Beach, this legendary dive bar has made appearances. It’s famous for having a walk-in cooler where you pick your own beer. It’s about as "summer" as it gets.
- Crystal Pier: You’ve seen this in the background of many "deep conversation by the water" moments. It’s a staple of Wrightsville Beach.
- The Cape Fear Country Club: While most of the interior "country club" scenes are filmed on sets or in private venues, the overall aesthetic is modeled after the high-society clubs found in the South and New England.
The show does a great job of hiding the "Southern-ness" of North Carolina to make it feel more like a neutral Atlantic location. They swap out palm trees or avoid certain landmarks that would scream "Wilmington" to a local. They want you to believe Cousins could be just a three-hour drive from your house, wherever you live on the coast.
Is it actually in Virginia?
In the books, there are hints that Cousins might be located in Maryland or Virginia. Belly’s family lives in Pennsylvania, and the drive to Cousins is described as being a few hours. Geographically, that would put Cousins somewhere like Ocean City, Maryland or Virginia Beach.
However, the show keeps it vague.
They want that "Anywhere, USA" feeling for the beach. By not pinning it down to a specific state on screen, it allows every viewer to project their own summer memories onto the screen. It’s a smart move. It keeps the fantasy alive.
The Cultural Impact of the Cousins Aesthetic
Since the show exploded, "Coastal Grandmother" and "Coastal Granddaughter" styles have taken over TikTok.
People are obsessed with the linen shirts, the hydrangea gardens, and the white-on-white interior design of the Fisher house. This aesthetic is tied directly to where The Summer I Turned Pretty takes place. It’s an aspirational lifestyle. It’s not just about the beach; it’s about a very specific, polished version of the beach.
The production designer for the show, Brigitte Broch (who, fun fact, won an Oscar for Moulin Rouge!), worked hard to make sure the setting felt lived-in. The house isn't just a set; it feels like a place where kids have been tracking in sand for twenty years. That’s the detail that makes the fictional Cousins Beach feel more real than actual towns on the map.
How to Experience the Cousins Vibe in Real Life
You might not be able to visit a town called Cousins, but you can definitely replicate the trip.
If you want the exact look, go to Wilmington. Stay at one of the beach houses near the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Walk the pier at Wrightsville. Eat at a local seafood spot. If you want the "book" vibe, head to Chincoteague, Virginia or Cape May, New Jersey. These towns have that same mixture of historic charm and seaside beauty.
The reality is that Cousins Beach exists in the shared memory of everyone who has ever had a "coming of age" summer. It’s that feeling of the last day of August when the air starts to turn and you realize everything is about to change.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of The Summer I Turned Pretty, start by exploring the real-world locations that built the show.
- Visit Wilmington, NC: Book a stay in the Fall or Spring to avoid the massive crowds but still get that coastal atmosphere. Check out the Riverwalk downtown and the boardwalk at Carolina Beach.
- Read the Book Descriptions: Go back to Jenny Han’s original trilogy. Pay attention to the way she describes the smells and the sounds of Cousins. It’s much more sensory than the show.
- Check Filming Permits: If you’re a local or planning a trip during filming season, keep an eye on local Wilmington news outlets like WECT or the Star-News. They often report on where the crew is setting up.
- Follow the Cast’s Socials: Lola Tung and the rest of the cast often post "behind the scenes" photos that show the reality of the locations, often including the less-glamorous side of filming in the humid North Carolina heat.
Cousins Beach may be a map-less destination, but the memories created there—both by the characters and the fans—are as real as it gets. Knowing where does The Summer I Turned Pretty take place adds a whole new layer to the viewing experience. It turns a fictional drama into a tangible place you can almost reach out and touch.
Next Steps: Research the history of Wilmington's EUE/Screen Gems Studios to see other famous projects filmed in the same "Cousins Beach" locations, or look up a local travel guide for Wrightsville Beach to plan your own coastal getaway.