Belly Conklin’s Guide to Wilmington, NC

Cousins Beach, IRL

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One girl, two brothers and one epic love triangle? What’s summer without a little heartbreak?

Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah are back for the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty, the hit Prime Video series based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novels (yep, the To All the Boys author). Whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Cousins Beach is the real star.

Except, it’s not a real place. But, the good news is, it’s actually Wilmington, North Carolina.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com, Inc

From moody pier walks to sun-soaked bonfires, the show was filmed across Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach, all within 30 minutes of downtown Wilmington. Each spot brings its own flavor: Wrightsville’s got the surf crowd, Carolina brings the nostalgic boardwalk energy and Kure’s low-key and locals-only in the best way.

No stranger to screen time, Wilmington has earned the nickname “Wilmywood,” with credits like Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, and A Walk to Remember under its belt.

So if you’re craving your own cinematic summer moment, this guide’s your starting line.

Where To Stay:

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Unfortunately, you can’t book Susannah’s dreamy summer home. It’s a private oceanfront residence tucked inside Porters Neck Plantation, on Figure Eight Island, and firmly off-limits to the public (unless you’re dropping serious $$$ on a rental). Still, you can catch a glimpse: head to the Porters Neck or Figure Eight Island bridges, or rent a kayak and try your luck from the water.

Photo credit: Credit: Prime Video

But don’t worry, the area is stacked with stay-worthy Airbnbs and beach towns that channel the same cinematic energy. Wrightsville Beach is the closest to downtown