Without a doubt, the number one attraction near town is the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint. The small but impressive park is home to both the shortest lighthouse and the largest Sitka Spruce in Oregon, as well as some of the Coast's best views over the crashing Pacific Ocean. The viewpoints in the park are known as a prime whale-watching spot during migration season, and a favorite nesting grounds for sea birds, including the common murre, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. On clear days, visitors might catch a glimpse of the tufted puffins and Steller sea lions who enjoy protected breeding grounds at the Three Arch Rocks Natural Wildlife Refuge to the southwest of Cape Meares.

Many vacationers along the Oregon Coast pass through Cape Meares as they journey along the Three Capes Scenic Route, a 40-mile loop drive that meanders along the shoreline from Pacific City to Tillamook. Even on rainy days, the well-marked path is worth an afternoon's exploration, showing off some of Oregon's most panoramic viewpoints in state parks at Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda. Along the sandy beach of Cape Meares and in the surrounding parks, visitors can enjoy some of the best hiking, kayaking, kite-flying, crabbing, fishing, and birdwatching in the state.

While Cape Meares itself is very quiet, the community is only five minutes from Oceanside, with fresh seafood and homemade desserts at Roseanna's Cafe or Brewin' in the Wind. Within twenty minutes, Tillamook offers all the dining and shopping options of a larger town, plus the ultimate rainy-day activity: touring and tasting at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Cape Meares makes a convenient home base for exploring the Oregon Coast, with a number of popular tourist destinations within an hour and a half's drive: Cannon Beach and Seaside to the north, Pacific City and Lincoln City to the south. Portland is under two hours away, and Seattle can be reached within four and a half hours. Close to the conveniences of "civilization" but offering a true sense of getting away from it all, Cape Meares is unmatched for its combination of natural beauty and peacefulness along the Northern Oregon Coast.