Where Cousins Beach Is in The Summer I Turned Pretty
The fictional Cousins Beach in The Summer I Turned Pretty is filmed at La Jolla Shores in San Diego, California. This wide, sandy cove with its gentle waves and accessible boardwalk stands in for the show’s beloved hometown coastline, providing a safe, family-friendly backdrop for the Conrad-Greg-Pearson triangle and the larger Fisher–Hardy dynamics. While the series treats the beach as a central meeting place, the real-world location is a practical, public shoreline that matches the show’s tone of sunlit, small-town intimacy without being tethered to a single exact town in the books.
Why a Stand-In Beach Fits the Story
Using La Jolla Shores lets the production control parking, access, and amenities while still selling the idea of a close-knit coastal town where characters can gather at any hour. The gentle slope and broad surfzone make it safer for stunt work and dialogue scenes, while the lack of sharp drop-offs keeps camera rigs and crew comfortable during long takes. For viewers, the familiarity of the real beach reinforces the nostalgic, breezy mood the show leans into across seasons.
Visual Choices That Sell the Location
- Wide-angle shots emphasize the openness of the sand and surf.
- Golden-hour lighting leans into the show’s warm, sentimental palette.
- Boardwalk and pier scenes are shot along the nearby La Jolla Shores boardwalk.
La Jolla Shores at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Location | La Jolla Shores, San Diego, California | Production resources |
| Beach Type | Sandy cove with gentle surf | On-site observation |
| Boardwalk/Pier | Adjacent public boardwalk and shallow pier | Location documentation |
| Access | Public parking and stairs; ADA-friendly route available | City of San Diego Parks |
| Family Atmosphere | Consistently busy with swimmers, families, and casual volleyball | Visitor patterns |
How the Show Frames This Beach
In the series, Cousins Beach functions as emotional common ground—where characters confess feelings, process grief, and mark turning points in their relationships. The production design keeps details low-key: modest changing stalls, basic volleyball nets, and unobtrusive signage keep the focus on the people rather than postcard clichés. This restraint helps the location feel lived-in instead of staged, which suits the show’s approachability.
Real-World Coastal Aesthetic vs. Fictional Setting
The book series sets Cousins in an unspecified coastal town, leaving the exact geography to the reader’s imagination. The show narrows this to a recognizable California beach town aesthetic, with houses climbing nearby bluffs and a town boardwalk that feels walkable in a single afternoon. La Jolla Shores offers the visual shorthand for that without locking the story to a specific named town, preserving flexibility for future seasons and spinoffs.
Visiting Cousins Beach in Real Life
If you’re heading to La Jolla Shores to see where The Summer I Turned Pretty was filmed, aim for morning or late afternoon for softer light and smaller crowds. Parking can fill quickly in peak season, so allow extra time and consider rideshares. Public restrooms and outdoor showers are available, and lifeguards are on duty during normal beach hours. Keep in mind this is a working municipal beach, so filming may occur without notice; give space to crew and locals for the best experience.
Quick Comparison: Book vs. Show Beach Vibe
| Aspect | Book Cousins Beach | Show Cousins Beach (La Jolla Shores) |
|---|---|---|
| Location anonymity | intentionally vague coastal town | identifiable San Diego cove |
| Facilities | minimal, implied | public restrooms, boardwalk, parking |
| Crowd level | small-circle intimacy | busy but manageable |
| Visual tone | nostalgic, interior-focused | wide, sunlit, approachable |
Takeaway
Cousins Beach is brought to life at La Jolla Shores in San Diego, a practical, scenic choice that supports the show’s tone of sun-drenched, small-town summers. The real beach offers the openness and accessibility the series needs while staying grounded enough to feel familiar. For viewers, knowing where the show was filmed adds a layer of real-world texture to the fictional summers of The Summer I Turned Pretty without changing the emotional center of the story.