Dear Peter,
Be sure to stop in Powells Bookstore in Portland. It's great! Located at 10th and Burnside.
Don't stay at Seaside or Cannon Beach if you want reasonable housing. They are tourist towns, but interesting in their own right. I would suggest staying in Tillamook, which has very reasonably-priced motels. There is a wonderful loop road out of Tillamook that goes around 3 capes with great tidepools. You will have to do some walking to get to the pools.
Have fun!
Roland

Roland C. Anderson, Puget Sound Biologist
The Seattle Aquarium
1483 Alaskan Way
Seattle WA 98101 USA
phone: 206-386-4359
See our website: www.seattleaquarium.org

>>> Peter Froehlich <[log in to unmask]> 02/23 4:58 PM >>>
I will be traveling to Portland, Oregon in mid-March for a meeting and plan
to spend some extra time exploring the north coast area (Seaside, etc.)  If
anyone on Conch-L has any suggestions of good places to explore tidepools or
beachcomb they would be appreciated.  Also any suggestion for cheap lodging
are welcome (all I need are clean sheets, heat and hot and cold running
water)

Any information on shelling restrictions is also welcome.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Beth DeHaas
Whitefield, ME