Travel

Most major North American airlines serve Portland Airport (PDX), which is about 5 hours by automobile from the conference venue in Coos Bay. Horizon Air, a subsidiary of Alaska Air, makes several flights per day to and from North Bend, just 10 minutes from the conference venue. These planes are small (30 passenger), so we strongly advise that flights are booked well in advance. Horizon Air also flies from Portland to Eugene, which is about two hours away from Coos Bay over very scenic mountain roads. United Airlines Express serves Eugene directly from San Francisco and Portland.

All major car rental agencies may be found in the Portland airport, and most are also represented in Eugene. Only a single national agency, Hertz, is found in the North Bend Airport, and their rental cars are very expensive. However, a local car dealership, Verger Chrysler, also provides cars at the North Bend airport, at very reasonable rates.

Lodging Options

Several lodging options are available at a range of prices and levels of convenience. Although there are many hotels and motels in the Coos Bay/North Bend/Charleston area, none is within easy walking distance of the conference venue. Individuals without cars will find it most convenient to stay on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus. All of the hotels are within walking distance of eating and drinking establishments, but the SWOCC dorms are not. We plan to provide a shuttle bus service to carry on-campus residents to and from the downtown areas for evening meals and entertainment. However, if you are able to bring a car or rent a car, we encourage you to do so!

Southwestern Oregon Community College:

Inexpensive on-campus housing is available for up to 250 people (double occupancy) or 135 people (single occupancy) within 100 to 300 m of the conference venue. The housing units are fully furnished apartments, each having four single-occupancy or double-occupancy bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, dining room, balcony or deck, and two shared bathrooms. Towels and linens are included, and coin operated washing machines and dryers are available nearby. The apartment buildings are nestled in an evergreen forest near Empire Lakes and an easy stroll to the conference venue. For additional information, see the following web site: http://www.southwestern.cc.or.us/student_life/housing/housing_apt.html. We recommend this housing option for individuals who do not have their own transportation or a rental car. Prices are as follows:

$26.00 per night single occupancy
$21.00 per night double occupancy

To book one of these units, please fill out the housing application, requesting your first and second choice housing options, and include the $50.00 housing deposit with your registration fee. The balance of your housing charges will be due upon arrival at the meeting.

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology:

Inexpensive housing for up to 60 people is available in the dormitories and cottages at Oregon Institute of Marine Biology . Approximately 20 private (single or double occupancy) rooms are available in the graduate dorms and cottages, and an additional 20 beds are available in the undergraduate dorms. The latter consist of open lofts with individual living areas delimited by furniture (beds, desks, book shelves, wardrobes) and with large shared bathroom facilities. Individuals staying at OIMB will find rental cars to be useful, though we can probably arrange rides for some residents with OIMB faculty and students. Prices are as follows:

$20.00 per night for a not-very-private bed in an undergraduate dorm
$25.00 per night for a private room in a shared cottage or graduate dormitory
$15.00 per person per night, double occupancy room in a shared cottage room

To book one of these rooms, please submit the housing form indicating your first and second housing options, and include the $50.00 housing deposit with your registration fee. The balance of your housing charges will be due upon arrival at the meeting.

Hotels and Motels:

There are numerous motels and hotels in the North Bend/ Coos Bay area, all of which are several kilometers from the conference venue. Three motels of excellent quality have have offered special rates for the conference attendees. To book rooms at the discounted rates, please contact the hotels directly, mentioning the the Deep-Sea Biology Symposium sponsored by the University of Oregon. As late August is the busiest part of the tourist season, we recommend that you book rooms well in advance.

Ramada Inn North Bend
1503 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, Oregon 97459
reservations: 541-756-3191 or 800-272-6232
fax: 541-756-5818
http://www.the.ramada.com/northbend13189

This is a newer hotel approximately 2 miles from the conference and within easy walking distance of a variety of restaurants and bars in North Bend. The facility has a bar, restaurant and exercise room on site. They are offering a special rate of $55.00 per night for a room with one king-sized bed or two-queen sized beds (regular rate: $92.00 to $112.00), accommodating up to two people. As this is their academic rate, be sure to mention the University of Oregon or Southwestern Oregon Community College when booking.

Red Lion Hotel, Coos Bay
1313 North Bayshore Drive, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
Reservations: 541-267-4141 or 800-733-5466
Fax: 541-267-2844
http://www.redlion.com/WHC/hotels/ShowHotel.asp?ID=154

The Red Lion is a hotel of excellent quality on the main road (Hwy. 101) through Coos Bay. It is approximately 3 miles from the conference venue and 6 blocks from eating and drinking establishments downtown. The hotel has 143 rooms, of which 30 have been reserved for conference participants at a special rate of $64.00 per night. Each room can accommodate up to 4 people in two queen-sized beds or 2 people in one king-sized bed. Their regular rates at this time of year are approximately $80.00. An outdoor heated pool, jacuzzi and exercise room are available on site. To obtain the special rate, call the hotel directly (not the 800 number) and mention the Deep-sea Biology Symposium.

Edgewater Inn, Coos Bay
275 E. Johnson Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
Reservations: 541- or 800-233-0423
http://www.theedgewaterinn.com/

The Edgewater Inn is a new hotel adjacent to Hwy. 101 and just a few blocks from downtown Coos Bay, about 4 miles from the conference venue. It has large rooms with two queen-size beds, and also boasts an indoor pool, spa and exercise room. The hotel is offering a group rate of $60.00 per room for conference attendees. Their normal rate for this time of year is $88.00.

Mill Hotel
3201 Tremont Ave., North Bend, Oregon 97459
Reservations: 541-756-8800 or 800-953-4800
http://www.themillcasino.com/lodging.htm

This 3-year-old hotel is connected to a large casino run by the Coquille Indian Tribe on the shore of Coos Bay. It is the closest hotel to the SWOCC campus (1.6 miles, partly uphill in both directions). It offers high quality rooms with king-size or queen-sized beds and data ports, some with in-room jacuzzis. Restaurants, bars and a large casino are within a few steps of the rooms. The Mill Hotel charges $119.00 for a non-smoking room with two queen-sized beds and a view of the bay. Rooms without views are slightly less.

Driving Distances

The following table shows driving or walking distances from the various housing units to the conference venue (SWOCC) and to the downtown restaurant and bar areas of Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston.