15 Real-Life Cousins Beach Locations: Your Ultimate Guide To The Summer I Turned Pretty In Wilmington, NC

Cousins Beach, North Carolina, is not a real place, but its spirit and idyllic summer charm are 100% authentic, thanks to the coastal city of Wilmington, NC, and its surrounding beaches. As of December 12, 2025, the buzz around the fictional town from Jenny Han's beloved *The Summer I Turned Pretty* (*TSITP*) series is stronger than ever, especially with updates regarding Season 3 filming, driving a massive surge in "set-jetting" tourism to the North Carolina coast.

The secret to Cousins Beach’s picturesque backdrop lies in the seamless blend of three distinct coastal communities—Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach—all anchored by the historic, charming downtown of Wilmington. Fans of Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah are flocking to this region to walk in the characters' footsteps, transforming Wilmington into a real-life summer destination and a must-visit pilgrimage site for pop culture enthusiasts.

The Real Cousins Beach: Wilmington and Its Coastal Gems

While the book series by Jenny Han places Cousins Beach in the fictional Massachusetts area, the Amazon Prime Video adaptation chose the Wilmington, North Carolina, area for its authentic Southern coastal ambiance and cinematic versatility. This region, often dubbed "Hollywood East," provided the perfect blend of pristine beaches, lush gardens, and historic architecture to bring the Fisher family's summer haven to life. The following are the core entities that make up the real-life Cousins Beach.

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• Primary Filming Hub: Wilmington, North Carolina (NC)
• The Beaches: Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach
• The Fisher Beach House Location: Porters Neck Plantation (a private, gated community)
• The Country Club: Cape Fear Country Club & Porters Neck Country Club
• The Book Store: Papercut Books (stands in for 'Whale of a Tale')
• The Boardwalk/Pier: Carolina Beach Boardwalk & Kure Beach Pier
• The Yacht Club: Carolina Yacht Club
• The Gardens: Airlie Gardens
• The University: University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW)
• The Diner/Restaurant: Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill and Volleyball
• Historic Downtown: Wilmington Riverwalk
• Local Landmarks: Fort Fisher, Cape Fear Marina, North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

The sheer number of specific locations used across Wilmington, from its bustling downtown to its quiet, exclusive neighborhoods, is what gives Cousins Beach its rich, lived-in feel, making it feel more real than any single, isolated filming spot.

An Insider’s Look at the Most Iconic Filming Locations

For fans planning their own Cousins Beach vacation, knowing the exact spots where Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah’s most memorable moments took place is essential. The production team masterfully stitched together various Wilmington landmarks to create the seamless world of the show.

The Iconic Fisher Beach House

The centerpiece of the entire series is the sprawling, shingled beach house, which is the heart of the Fisher and Conklin families’ summers. In reality, this house is located within the exclusive, private, gated community of Porters Neck Plantation in Wilmington, NC. While the property itself is private and not accessible to the public, the surrounding area showcases the lush, manicured landscape that defines the fictional Cousins Beach. The house perfectly captures the old-money, traditional New England summer aesthetic, despite being firmly rooted in North Carolina soil.

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The Real-Life Beach Backdrops: Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure

No single beach could capture all the required scenes, so the production utilized three distinct beaches, each offering a unique flavor of the coastal South.

• Wrightsville Beach: Known for its pristine, white sand and vibrant surf culture, Wrightsville Beach provided many of the sweeping, idyllic beach scenes. It’s the most upscale of the three, reflecting the affluence of the Cousins Beach community.
• Carolina Beach: This beach is famous for its lively Carolina Beach Boardwalk, which is a major LSI keyword for the area. This is where Belly and her friends spend time enjoying classic summer amusements, including the iconic Ferris wheel and arcade games.
• Kure Beach: Offering a more laid-back, rustic feel, Kure Beach is home to the historic Kure Beach Pier and the nearby North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. These locations provide the quieter, more scenic backdrops for intimate conversations and reflective moments in the series.

The Social Hubs: Country Clubs, Bookstores, and Downtown Wilmington

Beyond the sand and surf, Cousins Beach is defined by its social scene, which fans can explore in detail through Wilmington’s actual establishments.

The Country Club Scenes

The elegance and tradition of the fictional Cousins Beach Country Club were captured using two of Wilmington's most prestigious locations. The lavish balls and formal events were primarily filmed at the historic Cape Fear Country Club, which holds the distinction of being the oldest private golf club in North Carolina. Additional interior and exterior shots, particularly for Season 2, were reportedly filmed at the equally stunning Porters Neck Country Club. These locations firmly establish the "old-money" atmosphere that is central to the Fisher family’s world.

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The Town and Local Hangouts

The vibrant local life of Cousins Beach is found in the heart of downtown Wilmington, particularly along the scenic Wilmington Riverwalk. This 1.75-mile boardwalk is where Belly and Conrad share some of their most emotional walks, overlooking the Cape Fear River.

Key businesses and landmarks that fans will instantly recognize include:

• Whale of a Tale Bookstore: This quaint shop, where Belly and her friends browse for books, is actually Papercut Books in downtown Wilmington. It’s a perfect spot for fans to pick up their own copy of the *TSITP* series.
• The Volleyball Court: The outdoor volleyball scenes, which are a quintessential summer activity, were filmed at Capt'n Bill's Backyard Grill and Volleyball, a popular local spot known for its casual atmosphere and sand courts.
• Airlie Gardens: The stunning, lush greenery and romantic setting for the deb ball and other formal gatherings were filmed at the breathtaking Airlie Gardens, a 67-acre historic garden estate known for its ancient oak trees and seasonal blooms.

The Lasting Impact of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'

The success of *The Summer I Turned Pretty* has had a tangible and recent impact on the Wilmington area, solidifying its status as a major tourism draw. The show has created a new category of "set-jetters"—travelers specifically motivated to visit filming locations. The Wilmington and Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau actively promotes the area as the "real-life Cousins Beach," offering itinerary guides for fans.

With the highly anticipated Season 3 of *TSITP* currently in production, the attention on Wilmington, NC, remains at an all-time high. Fans are eager for updates on new filming locations, including scenes that may take place at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), which has been used for college-related scenes in previous seasons. This continuous stream of fresh content ensures that the real Cousins Beach—Wilmington, North Carolina—will remain a top summer destination for years to come, long after the final chapter of Belly's story is told.