Cousins Beach, the fictional beach town in "The Summer I Turned Pretty," is inspired by and filmed primarily in Wilmington, North Carolina. While the actual Cousins Beach does not exist as a real place, the show uses real locations around Wilmington and nearby coastal areas such as Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach to represent it. Key scenes, including the iconic Fisher family beach house, were filmed in Wilmington and its surroundings. Additionally, the "Entering Cousins Beach" sign shown in the series is located near Southport, a town close to Wilmington. Wilmington was chosen for its picturesque beaches and coastal charm, brought to life with added Cape Cod-style details like hydrangea bushes and cedar shakes to fit the story's aesthetic.
In summary, fans visiting "Cousins Beach" in real life should explore Wilmington, North Carolina, and the adjacent beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach to experience the show's settings.