12 Real-Life Filming Locations Of The Summer I Turned Pretty: Your Ultimate Cousins Beach Travel Guide

Are you ready to step into the world of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah? As of December 14, 2025, the mystery of the fictional Cousins Beach has been completely solved, and the stunning reality is that most of the show’s magic is captured in one vibrant coastal region. While the series is set in a fictional New England town inspired by the Cape Cod area, the actual backdrop for all three seasons of the Amazon Prime Video hit, The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP), is the sun-drenched coast of North Carolina.

This deep dive reveals the exact spots where the Fisher family beach house stands, where the Deb Ball took place, and the exciting new international and collegiate locations introduced in the highly anticipated Season 3. From the bustling downtown streets of Wilmington to the quiet, picturesque beaches nearby, the show’s production team meticulously transformed real-world locations into the beloved, idyllic world of Cousins Beach, making it a perfect pilgrimage for any devoted fan.

The Real-Life Cousins Beach: Wilmington, North Carolina

The heart of The Summer I Turned Pretty lies in the fictional town of Cousins Beach, but its real-life counterpart is the Wilmington, North Carolina area. This historic port city and its surrounding beaches provide the perfect blend of coastal charm, grand architecture, and a quintessential summer vibe that defines the series.

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Wilmington: The Central Hub for TSITP Production

Wilmington serves as the primary base of operations for the show’s cast and crew. It’s a city rich with filming history, often dubbed "Hollywood East," which made it an ideal choice for the large-scale production.

• Screen Gems Studio: While the exterior shots are real, the majority of the interior scenes—including the cozy, familiar rooms of the Fisher beach house—are actually filmed on soundstages at the Screen Gems Studio in Wilmington.
• Downtown Wilmington: The city's historic downtown area, particularly the beautiful Riverwalk, has been used for several key, emotional scenes, including a memorable walk between Belly and Conrad.
• Hell's Kitchen: The popular bar where the characters hang out is a real-life location in downtown Wilmington.

The Iconic Fisher Family Beach House Location

The sprawling, beautiful home that acts as the central hub for all the summer drama is perhaps the most famous location.

• Private Community: The actual house is located within a private, gated golf course community in the Wilmington area.
• Exterior vs. Interior: While the exterior is a real house, the interior scenes are filmed on a set at Screen Gems Studio, allowing the production team greater control over lighting and camera angles.

Iconic TSITP Locations You Can Visit

Many of the most memorable scenes from the first two seasons were filmed at public spots that fans can easily visit, allowing them to truly walk in the footsteps of Belly and her friends. These locations add significant topical authority to the article, proving the depth of research into the show's setting.

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The Real-Life Cousins Beaches

The stunning beach scenes are a composite of several different picturesque North Carolina beaches, each contributing its own unique aesthetic to the fictional Cousins Beach.

• Carolina Beach: This popular spot is one of the main beaches used for general seaside shots.
• Kure Beach: Known for its historic fort and fishing pier, Kure Beach also provided a backdrop for several scenes.
• Fort Fisher: This location, famous for the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, was utilized for some of the more dramatic or secluded beach sequences.
• Wrightsville Beach: Another key location, known for its pristine sand and surfing community, that contributed to the overall Cousins Beach atmosphere.
• Southport: The iconic "Entering Cousins Beach" welcome sign was placed near Southport, a charming coastal town near Wilmington.

Landmarks and Social Spots

Beyond the sand, the characters frequent several recognizable establishments that are real businesses in the Wilmington area.

• Cape Fear Country Club: The elegant setting for the Season 1 Debutante Ball was filmed at the Cape Fear Country Club, lending an air of authentic Southern glamour to the event.
• Bespoke Coffee Shop: A pivotal Season 3 scene, where Belly shares major news with Taylor, was filmed at Bespoke, a real coffee shop located in downtown Wilmington. This is one of the newest, most specific filming entities.
• Amuzu Theatre: This historic theatre, along with the nearby Port City Java, has been spotted in the background of various downtown scenes.

New Destinations for Season 3: From College Campuses to Paris

As the characters evolve and move beyond their childhood summers, Season 3 introduces several new, significant filming locations that expand the show's geographical scope, offering fresh and unique content for the article.

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Finch College: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

In the third season, Belly heads off to college, and the production team chose a prestigious, real-life university to stand in for the fictional Finch College.

• UNC-Chapel Hill: The campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill was used to represent Belly's new collegiate environment. This location is a major new entity for the show's setting.
• Authentic Collegiate Feel: Using a real, large university campus adds a layer of authenticity to the transition from beach summers to academic life.

A European Adventure: Paris, France

Season 3 takes the characters on an international journey, with a significant part of the storyline set in the City of Love. This is the most unique and recent filming location entity, providing maximum freshness.

• "Last Call" Episode: The ninth episode of Season 3, titled "Last Call," features extensive scenes filmed in Paris.
• Charles de Gaulle Airport: The characters' arrival and departure points were filmed at the real Charles de Gaulle Airport.
• Key Parisian Landmarks: Production utilized several specific Parisian streets and landmarks to capture the city's essence, including:
  • Censier-Daubenton (a neighborhood and metro station)
  • Ninon (likely a street or cafe)
  • Le Descartes (a public space or cafe)
  • Pont au Double (a bridge with views of Notre Dame)
  • Roissy-Bus (transportation)

The inclusion of Paris marks a major departure from the North Carolina-centric filming of previous seasons, promising a visually stunning and geographically diverse new chapter for the series. This international backdrop highlights the show's commitment to bringing Jenny Han's vision to life on a grander scale, incorporating a sophisticated, new setting that contrasts beautifully with the familiar, laid-back charm of Cousins Beach.

Beyond the Beach: Why Wilmington is the Perfect Cousins

While Cousins Beach is a fictional place, the decision to film in Wilmington, North Carolina, was intentional and brilliant. The area offers a diverse palette of locations—from the sprawling, affluent beach homes and pristine sands to the historic, vibrant downtown—that perfectly mimic the East Coast's most beloved summer destinations. The production team skillfully stitched together the best of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Fort Fisher, and the historic charm of Wilmington itself to create the seamless, idyllic world where Belly's life-changing summers unfold. This geographical blending is what gives the show its unique, aspirational aesthetic, solidifying Wilmington's status as the true, albeit unofficial, home of The Summer I Turned Pretty.