Beach walkers and bird watchers will adore the location of Barview. The sandy shores begin in nearby Barview Jetty County Park, and stretch northward for nearly eight miles, past the scenic Twin Rocks, to Rockaway Beach. While the obvious attraction here is the Pacific, don't neglect the beautiful Tillamook State Forest just to the east. The evergreen-covered mountains provide plenty of scenic hikes, including one that leads to the tallest waterfall in the Coast Range at Munson Creek Falls State Park, just half an hour from Barview.

For dining and shopping, Barview has a few select options, but most of the activity will be found in Garibaldi (2.5 miles away), Rockaway Beach (4 miles) or, for "big-city" amenities, Tillamook (12 miles). Along with a larger selection of restaurants and supermarkets, Tillamook offers plenty of rainy-day attractions: tastings & tours at the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory, enjoying a more low-key cheese experience at the lovely Blue Heron French Cheese Company), viewing restored WWII-era aircraft at the Tillamook Air Museum, or learning about the region's past at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.

Barview's location along the Northern Oregon Coast makes it an ideal home base for those seeking a peaceful retreat. The town has less hustle and bustle than most beach towns, but still offers wonderful scenery and is close to the region's star attractions. Within an hour to the north lie the tourist destinations of Cannon Beach and Seaside; to the south, explorers will delight in the Three Capes Scenic Drive, with its historic lighthouses and panoramic views. Portlanders can be in Barview in less than two hours, and Seattleites in just over four.