Cousins Location The Summer I Turned Pretty

You know that show that made us all want to escape to a perfectly dreamy beach town? Yep, we're talking about The Summer I Turned Pretty. And the setting? Cousins is basically half the reason we're obsessed.

Here's a wild little truth bomb. Cousins isn't a real place. It's a totally made-up beach town created by Jenny Han for her iconic book series.

But where did the magic of Cousins come to life on screen? Let's dive in.

Cousins: The Fictional Dream Town

Cousins is everything we wish our summer vacay would look like. Think wide DOT beaches, charming cottages, and that salty breeze that screams "nothing bad can happen here." Honestly, it feels like a place designed to make you fall in love (with someone and somewhere).

The fictional town has a quirky name that always sparks curiosity. Why "Cousins"? Well, it mirrors the messiest, most emotional family dynamics of the whole show.

Jenny Han basically gave us a place where everything feels warm, nostalgic, and heartbreakingly good. And we ate it up.

So Where Did They Actually Film It?

Okay, drumroll please. The beach scenes were filmed in South Carolina. Specifically, the charming town of Charleston took center stage.

But that's not all. A ton of the show's iconic moments happened in Wilmington, North Carolina too. Two cities played the part of one magical fake town. How cool is that?

The production team cherry-picked the best of both spots. They wanted that perfect east coast beach town energy and honestly? They nailed it.

Where Is 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' House? All About the Filming

The Beach House Vibes

The FISHERMAN HOUSE — sorry, the Fisher house — is the emotional heartbeat of the show. That big beautiful home right on the water? Every fan dreams of living there.

They used a real property for exterior shots to get that authentic, sun-soaked look through every frame. And trust us, it works like a charm.

Interior scenes were carefully set dressed to match Jenny Han's book descriptions. Every throw pillow had a purpose, people.

Charleston's Charm

Charleston is already ridiculously picturesque. Add a love triangle and beach sunsets, and you've got Pure television gold.

The city's cobblestone streets, historic homes, and waterfront parks all blended seamlessly into the Cousins aesthetic. It barely needed any help looking good.

Filming there also meant incredible natural light during golden hour. The cinematographers probably felt like they were cheating.

Wilmington's Beachfront Power

Wilmington is a total filming hotspot. Films and shows flock there because the energy is just right.

Cousins beach house – Artofit

Its beaches gave us those wide, sweeping shots that make you want to run into the surf. You can practically hear the waves through your speakers.

Plus, Wilmington has a film-friendly community that welcomes productions with open arms. No wonder so of our favorite shows land there.

Why the Location Matters So Much

Here's the thing. Cousins isn't just a backdrop. It's a character in the story.

The town shapes how Belly grows, how the love triangle unfolds, and how summers feel forever different. Location is everything.

Without that dreamy coastal setting, the whole vibe collapses. And nobody wants that.

Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know

The show's crew built custom props and faded backdrops to replicate the book's descriptions of Cousins. Attention to detail was absolutely insane.

Some extras were actually local Charleston and Wilmington residents. Normal people became tiny pieces of the Cousins legend.

Cousins Beach: Where was The Summer I Turned Pretty filmed? Guide to

And get this: the weather during filming cooperated almost too well. Sunny skies created that warm, hazy summer glow everyone talks about.

Would You Visits the Real Spots?

Here's the fun part. Since it isn't real, you can visit the actual filming locations and imagine yourself in Cousins.

Stroll down Charleston's streets, hit Wilmington's beaches, and pretend like you're living your own summer love story. Sounds pretty perfect, right?

Fans have already made trips. Social media is flooded with photos recreating iconic show moments in real life.

The Bottom Line

The genius of The Summer I Turned Pretty is how love, location, and longing all tangle together perfectly. Cousins is the feeling of never wanting summer to end.

And the real places behind the fiction make it all the more magical. Who knew two coastal cities could build an entire universe?

So next time you binge the show, remember the real spots that brought Cousins to life. You might just get the biggest urge to book a flight.