Here’s the truth bomb: Cousins Beach doesn’t exist. I know, I know—gasp, clutch your pearls. It’s a fictional town invented by author Jenny Han, so you can’t book a plane ticket there. But the show’s producers said, “Challenge accepted,” and Frankenstein-ed together a gorgeous fake beach town from bits of North Carolina and Rhode Island. It’s like they built a dream vacation spot out of spare parts, and honestly, I’m not mad about it.
The majority of the outdoor shots—the sand, the waves, the brooding gazebo scenes—were filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. Yes, that’s the same place where Dawson’s Creek made us all cry in the 90s. So, basically, North Carolina is the official state for teenage angst by the ocean. You’re welcome.
The Famous Beach House: Your Future Airbnb Fantasy
Now, let’s talk about the real star of the show: the beach house. That sprawling, sun-drenched, impossibly clean mansion where everyone casually walks in and out like they own it? That is the real heartthrob. The exterior—with its white shingles and dreamy porch—is a private home in Wilmington’s Landfall community. It’s so fancy that the people who actually live there probably have a garage for their garage.
Fun fact: the interior of the house is a completely different building. The cozy living room, the endless kitchen counter for dramatic conversations—that was filmed on a soundstage in Wilmington. They literally built a fake version of the dream house. It’s like when your favorite influencer uses three filters on one photo, but for architecture. Totally relatable.
