Many people who watch "The Summer I Turned Pretty" find themselves drawn into the world of Cousins Beach, a place that seems to hold all the good things about summer. It's where friendships are made, where first loves happen, and where the days feel long and full of possibility. This particular coastal town, with its inviting atmosphere, captures the hearts of viewers, making them wish they could spend their own warm months there, too it's almost. The show does a fine job of making this location feel like a character all its own, a spot that feels deeply familiar and wonderfully welcoming, so it's no wonder folks want to know more about it.
As the story unfolds, the setting of Cousins Beach becomes a central part of the experience. It's the backdrop for Belly Conklin's yearly visits, a place that marks the passage of time and the changes in her life. People often wonder if they can go there themselves, maybe even walk the same sandy shores or visit the same spots seen on screen. This natural curiosity about the show's main setting leads many to look for details, hoping to discover if this lovely spot is a real destination waiting to be explored. You know, like your favorite vacation memory.
It turns out, the true story behind Cousins Beach is a bit more involved than just pointing to a spot on a map. While the feelings it brings up are very real, the actual geography of it is a bit different from what you might first expect. The show manages to create a sense of a genuine location, yet the way it came to be, and where it was actually put on film, offers a rather interesting look into how fictional places come to life for us to enjoy. Honestly, it's pretty clever.
Table of Contents
- Is Cousins Beach a Real Place to Visit?
- Where Did the Idea for Cousins Beach Come From?
- Cousins Beach - The Creative Spark Behind the Setting
- Where Was the Show Cousins Beach Actually Filmed?
- Cousins Beach - North Carolina's Role in Bringing It to Life
- What Makes Wilmington a Good Cousins Beach Double?
- Cousins Beach - More Than Just a Pretty Face
- The Iconic Cousins Beach House - Does It Truly Exist?
Is Cousins Beach a Real Place to Visit?
A lot of people watching "The Summer I Turned Pretty" get really caught up in the idea of Cousins Beach. They see the beautiful scenery, the close-knit community, and the summer adventures, and they naturally start to wonder if they can book a trip there. It's a very common question, something that pops up a lot when a fictional place feels so real on screen. You know, like you just want to pack a bag and go. Unfortunately, for those hoping to find Cousins Beach on a map, there's a bit of news that might be a little disappointing. The short answer is, no, Cousins Beach is not a real place you can visit in Massachusetts or anywhere else. It's a made-up spot, created specifically for the books and the show. It's a location that exists purely in the story, serving as the main setting for all the events that unfold. So, while the feelings it brings up are very true, the actual spot itself is a product of imagination, basically.
Where Did the Idea for Cousins Beach Come From?
Even though Cousins Beach isn't a place you can drive to, its creation wasn't pulled out of thin air. The author, Jenny Han, who wrote the books that the show is based on, shared where she got the inspiration for this beloved summer spot. She explained that Cousins Beach is a fictional creation, a blend of different real-world coastal areas. It's kind of like taking the best parts of a few different places and putting them all together to make something new. This approach makes a lot of sense, really, because it allows for the perfect setting without being tied to the exact features or limitations of any single existing town. It gives the story a lot of freedom, you know?
Cousins Beach - The Creative Spark Behind the Setting
The author mentioned that her ideas for Cousins Beach came from a mix of well-known East Coast vacation spots. She drew inspiration from places like Cape Cod, which is famous for its charming towns and beautiful beaches. She also looked at the Hamptons, known for their grand homes and seaside elegance. And, in some respects, the Outer Banks, with their wilder, more natural coastal feel, also played a part. By combining elements from these different areas, she was able to create a place that feels both familiar and special, a kind of ideal summer escape. This blend allows Cousins Beach to have a unique character, something that captures the essence of a perfect summer without being limited by the realities of a single location. It's a pretty clever way to build a world, actually.
Where Was the Show Cousins Beach Actually Filmed?
While the story tells us that Cousins Beach is inspired by the Cape Cod area and is a made-up place, the actual filming of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" happened somewhere else entirely. This is a common practice in television and movies; productions often find real locations that can stand in for fictional settings. For this show, the majority of the stunning beach town scenes, the ones that make Cousins Beach feel so real, were filmed in North Carolina. Specifically, the production used locations in and around Wilmington and Southport. This choice allowed the creators to bring the author's vision to life, even if the actual setting wasn't the exact place she had in mind when writing. It's quite interesting how they make it all work, isn't it?
Cousins Beach - North Carolina's Role in Bringing It to Life
North Carolina, particularly the Wilmington area, played a very big part in making Cousins Beach appear on screen. Even though the books place the action at a spot called Cousins Beach, the popular Prime Video series chose to shoot in this southern state. This means that all those scenes of Belly and her friends on the beach, at the local hangouts, and around Susannah's summer house, were actually captured in North Carolina. The area offered the right kind of look and feel to double as the fictional town. It's a testament to the skill of the production team that they could find a real place that so perfectly matched the imaginary setting, giving viewers the impression they were truly at Cousins Beach. This is how they trick us, in a good way, you know?
What Makes Wilmington a Good Cousins Beach Double?
When a film crew needs to find a real location to represent a fictional one, they look for places that have the right kind of feeling and appearance. Wilmington, North Carolina, turned out to be a really good choice to stand in for Cousins Beach. It has a particular kind of appeal that fits the story's setting. The city has a distinct southern charm, which adds a certain warmth and character to the scenes. Plus, its beachside views are just what you'd expect from a summer getaway spot. These elements made it easy for the production to transform Wilmington into the beloved fictional town. It's like finding the perfect actor for a role, but for a place, in a way.
Cousins Beach - More Than Just a Pretty Face
Wilmington's ability to act as Cousins Beach goes beyond just having nice beaches. The area offers a combination of features that help sell the idea of the fictional town. The overall atmosphere, the way the light hits the water, the kind of homes you see, and the general vibe of the place all contribute to making it a convincing stand-in. It's not just about a single pretty view; it's about the whole package. This is why when you watch the show, it feels like you are truly in Cousins Beach, even though you are actually seeing parts of Wilmington and Southport. The creative team did a very good job of picking a location that could embody the spirit of the story's main setting, essentially.
The Iconic Cousins Beach House - Does It Truly Exist?
One of the most important parts of the Cousins Beach setting is Susannah's summer house. This house is where much of the story happens, where Belly, her brother Steven, and the Fisher boys, Conrad and Jeremiah, spend their summers. It's also where Susannah's best friend Laurel and her children stay. The house itself feels like a character, holding many memories and important moments. While this idyllic home is set in the fictional town of Cousins Beach, the actual house used for filming does exist in real life. It's located in Wilmington, North Carolina, just like many of the other filming spots. So, while the town itself is made up, the house that plays such a central role in the story is a real building that the actors worked in. It's pretty cool to think about, isn't it?
