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Kessi World

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Parks and Gardens

Lake Crescent Lodge — let the soul float in nature’s magic

July 17, 2023 by Matthew Kessi

Two brown rocking chairs sit peacefully on a small entry porch outside a cabin at Lake Crescent Lodge. Three large fronds of Sword Fern rise up to the deck as a hanging begonia pot clings to the rafter. The double hung windows reflect the hundred year old charm of this cabin.

The blue depths of Lake Crescent cleanse the soul. The lake that formed millions of years ago as glaciers sliced through the terrain continues to inspire the freedom to wander -- in mind, body, and spirit. Fir trees cascade from steep peaks to the gravelly banks that welcome the slow laps of pristine glacial melt-off. The 12-mile-long lake is perhaps the flagship welcome … [Read more...] about Lake Crescent Lodge — let the soul float in nature’s magic

Point Defiance Park — the best day in Tacoma wilderness

January 4, 2023 by Matthew Kessi

Beautiful pink blooms of a rhododendron are pushing out getting ready to splash on the scene. In the background are various trees in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.

My mom and her siblings grew up on the edge of a vast green space, where old-growth timber hugged primitive deer trails, and a zoo served up elephants and bears in “old school” cages of concrete and iron. It was wilderness back then when Tacoma’s North End was largely undeveloped. Their log cabin overlooked the flowing lawns of Point Defiance Park and was just high enough in … [Read more...] about Point Defiance Park — the best day in Tacoma wilderness

How to make a nature connection in Seattle’s Ravenna Park.

October 12, 2022 by Matthew Kessi

Nature connection at Ravenna Park begins with the pedestrian bridge that flows high above this photo, taken below in the deep forest. The bridge is painted green and a steel structure of Beams while the maple trees flow under a bright blue sky.

There is plenty of information about Ravenna Park, but not as much about how to make an authentic nature connection with this iconic Seattle wilderness. Mature 100-year-old trees fill a dramatic ravine that awaits your exploration in ways that can help you genuinely rediscover the life energy around you. This curated Mystic Nature Experience offers you my favorite magical … [Read more...] about How to make a nature connection in Seattle’s Ravenna Park.

How to make a nature connection in Bellevue Botanical Garden

September 21, 2022 by Matthew Kessi

A two tone fuchsia in Bellevue Botanical Garden shows delicate pink petals with a darker magenta interior and green foliage all around.

This article inspires a visit to Bellevue Botanical Garden. It guides how to elevate your nature connection with this 53-acre greenspace in the heart of a Seattle area urban beehive. Eleven distinct zones of botanical goodness patch together -- inviting discovery that can go deeper than the magenta hues of Fuschia lining the main lawn. My life is all about nature. I take … [Read more...] about How to make a nature connection in Bellevue Botanical Garden

Seattle Autumn — 5 inspiring walks to elevate your nature connection

August 31, 2022 by Matthew Kessi

An autumn scene in Seattle at a park where the leaves have fallen onto other trees. here a bright yellow maple leave is on top of red lace leaf maple leaves and a twisting tree branch.

This isn't a typical list of parks in Seattle that everyone writes about. If you're seeking a wide array of ideas, check out my other article about all the outdoor things to do in Fall in Seattle. This post is designed for Seattle locals yearning for a new way to see nature in the Emerald City or visitors hoping for an authentic connection to our greener parts. Either way, … [Read more...] about Seattle Autumn — 5 inspiring walks to elevate your nature connection

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I would like to acknowledge that much of my inspiration comes from living on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

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