Condé Nast TravelerSep 9, 2025
This North Carolina Town Is at the Center of The Summer I Turned Pretty
The beloved beach enclave stands in for a nebulous Northeast location.
20 things in this story
- Shell Island ResortHotelLocal institution on white sand
- Trailborn Surf & SoundHotelNewly renovated; hip hangout pool
- Elsewhere
- Cape Fear RiverSightWilmington, United StatesRiver waters were filming location
- Great Smoky MountainsHotelGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, United StatesViews from Blueridge Parkway
- Cousins BeachNeighborhoodWilmington, United StatesFictional name for Wilmington
- East Coast Intracoastal WaterwaySightWilmington, United StatesSeparates Wrightsville Beach from Wilmington
- Front Street InnHotelWilmington, United StatesBoutique hotel with espresso bar
- Trolley StopRestaurantWilmington, United States1970s hot dog shop
- Tower 7RestaurantWilmington, United StatesTex-Mex delights
- Ceviche'sRestaurantWilmington, United StatesCeviche and seafood in yellow building
- YoSakiRestaurantWilmington, United StatesSushi and pan-Asian dishes
- Tempo LoungeRestaurantWilmington, United StatesLive music after dinner
- MannaRestaurantWilmington, United StatesRefined American cuisine; local, sustainable
- MasonboroNeighborhoodMasonboro Island, United StatesIsland for docking boats
- Wilmington BattleshipSightWilmington, United StatesWorld War II battleship on Cape Fear River
- Blueridge ParkwayTrailBlue Ridge Parkway, United StatesDrive to see Appalachian Trail crossings
- Dawson's CreekPlaceWilmington, United States
- One Tree HillPlaceWilmington, United States
- UNC WilmingtonPlaceWilmington, United States
- Outer BanksNeighborhoodWilmington, United States