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Kessi World

Mindful travel around the Pacific Northwest.

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Olympic Peninsula & Washington Coast

My favorite unique Pacific Northwest hotels — a winter list of places to stay

October 5, 2022 by Matthew

The lobby of the Society Hotel is a cozy place to sit and read. There is afire roaring and shelves of books. Comfortable looking couches and chairs are strategically placed throughout the room.

NEW: Look for my TikTok videos of eight featured places to stay. Warning... I'm in them! Contrary to popular belief, the year's slow season can be a great time to visit the Pacific Northwest. Fewer crowds and a quieter beauty leave more space to connect with nature and spirit. Although the main holidays are often obvious moments to seek getaways, drivable weekends away for … [Read more...] about My favorite unique Pacific Northwest hotels — a winter list of places to stay

Quinault Loop Trail — nature’s magic in an Olympic Peninsula rainforest

July 27, 2022 by Matthew

Matthew Kessi gazes up at a giant hemlock tree on the Quinault Loop Trail near Olympic National Park. The roots of the giant tree trickle down the dirt path toward another thick tree and the forest foliage is alive with shades of green and various textures.

Are you looking to get away to a magical place, where old growth douglas fir tower above canyons flowing with alpine water?  Is time limited on an epic journey around the Olympic Peninsula?  Do you want access to pristine nature just steps away from a cozy lodge?  If the answer is yes to any (or all) of these questions, head for the (Lake) Quinault Loop Trail in … [Read more...] about Quinault Loop Trail — nature’s magic in an Olympic Peninsula rainforest

Experience the rich Washington rainforest wonderland at Lake Quinault Lodge

July 6, 2022 by Matthew

The impressive view of Lake Quinault Lodge shows the cedar shake siding and green shutters contrasting with the blue sky above.

Are you looking for a place where you can get away from it all -- while still being within a reasonable drive from the population centers around Seattle and Portland? Does the thought of waterlogged goodness inside a temperate Washington State rainforest wonderland open your heart a little wider? Lake Quinault Lodge, in the Olympic National Forest, awaits to fulfill your … [Read more...] about Experience the rich Washington rainforest wonderland at Lake Quinault Lodge

Olympic Peninsula road trip — 3-day epic winter tour

November 10, 2021 by Matthew

Destinations of splendor. A beach scene of the Pacific Ocean waves crashing on the fine sandy beach with two large rocky islands in the background with fir trees growing on top.

This is an updated version of an article originally published January, 2020. Washington State is a diverse land with topography ranging from high desert to fierce waves crashing against soft agate beaches. In the northwest corner of the state is the majestic and remote feeling Olympic Peninsula. Often dubbed the rainiest place in the United States, this area is home to the … [Read more...] about Olympic Peninsula road trip — 3-day epic winter tour

Journey to a hole in the wall

April 11, 2021 by Matthew

Exploration calls me and I answer.   Usually, the opportunity is clear and the conditions are hospitable — like a fresh breezy day last Spring at Deception Pass.  And my quest to see, experience, and connect with the world comes together like a patchwork quilt with sometimes clear blue fabric.  Other times, the sky is a darker color, and the call to … [Read more...] about Journey to a hole in the wall

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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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