Tide pools rank among some of my very favorite places on the Oregon coast. I love the primordial pools at Sunset Bay, the rocky pockets around Yachats, the wild beauty at the base of Haystack Rock.

Hitting the beach in the summer is a given, but winter? Why not, since it offers low tides and fewer crowds, which make a perfect combination for tide pooling. While you might balk at diving in frigid ...