Kessi World

Reunite with the land.

Destinations

Now, for over half of my years on Earth, I’ve lived a life of travel — all over the world. For more on this, check out the About Me section of this site. This blog started as a way for me to update my friends and family on my journeys from Greenland to Vietnam and everywhere in between. Over time, my connection to the Pacific Northwest — my home — inspired me to narrow in on my favorite destinations locally.

This page is designed to help you easily focus on destinations in the “great PNW”, as we sometimes say. There are three main sections: Washington State, Oregon and Europe.

What are your favorite destinations?

I’m always looking for new places to explore, especially in the PNW, so reach out to me if you have suggestions. On the same line, if you’re planning a visit to this beautiful land, let me know. I’d be happy to help you plan just the right journey to make meaningful connections while here. And if you’re considering a flight into this region, consider Alaska Airlines — my former employer for 25 years that I still stand behind.

Washington State

Wow! Ten years just flew by. I moved to Seattle in 2011 from a sweltering 100-degree humid Summer in Washington DC and instantly fell in love with the mild climate. The Emerald City is surrounded by all the elements — mountains rising above rolling water amongst a vast collage of green. I’ve walked hundreds of miles throughout the city and write a lot about the diverse offerings here. The information gets updated regularly, so check back often.

But Washington State is much more than Seattle. You can peruse articles about the mighty Olympic Peninsula or Mt. St. Helens. Check out Leavenworth or consider a stay at the quirky yet cozy Tokeland Hotel on the Washington Coast. It’s all here and growing every week.

The shining orange wood color of cedar that makes up the inside of a pavilion made to replicate the cedar hats worn by local Salish tribes. Pacific Northwest travel offers many ways to learn about the Indians.
Pacific Northwest travel is all about the water. Here, foamy waves wash up on a pebble beach of the Salish Sea, while islands pop up on the horizon.
Matthew Kessi ponders Pacific Northwest travel while outside his vehicle which is tucked into a bright green fir forest.

Destination Oregon

Since I grew up on a farm near Portland, and then spent my early adult years in the City of Roses, there will always be a connection to the Beaver State. So much connection, that I make the Seattle to Portland drive routinely and work to find new ways to view the scenery along the way. You’ll find articles about my favorite destinations — like Astoria and Bend — day-trip options from Portland, and more.

Pacific Northwest travel offers many ways to learn more about the people who inhabited this land for millennia before the first settlers. Here is a bronze statue of Sacagaweja, known for being instrumental in assisting the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Europe

Even though my current focus is concentrated on the stunning diverse beauty of the Pacific Northwest, I have a lot of experience in places like Ireland, for example. It seems I should offer these writings as options too.

Close of selfie shot of Matthew Kessi with a ski gondola moving in the background. There are snow covered trees and a valley below in the background with snow covered Swiss chalets and the base of another rocky Alpine peak.
A Swiss chalet near Grindelwald in the Alpine recreation area. The bronze colored walls of the building are shuttered and an expansive wood pile tucks efficiently under the wrap around deck. It's a snowy scene with a groomed trail to the right and crisp blue sky above.
View from a hotel room at Hotel Spinne looking past a table with fruit and books to the balcony table with two bottles of wine just beneath the rail with four inches of snow. In the background is the base of Eiger (13,000ft).
Walking up upon a Swiss barn with stacked wood pile and a mountainside restaurant inn in the far distance. All under the rocky peak of Eiger.
The sharp peak of Errigal Mountain rises up above the lowlands of Donegal Ireland below. The peak is triangular in nature and rocky with patches of brownish green grass. There are two hikers, a man wearing black jacket and hunting pants and a woman wearing a read coat and white hat, making their way back down the mountain. The sky is a light blue.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which are shown in this photo. This view shows the top of the rocks which have a pentagon shaped. Some of them have residual water from the waves splashing.
The rental car company in Dublin gave me a bracelet to remind me to drive on the left hand side of the road. I'm smiling as I snap a selfie in the rental care.
Mystical foggy morning in Donegal, Ireland along a paved country road with a hedge serving as a fence for local farm animals.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which are shown in the foreground of this photo. Dramatic high cliffs leading to the sea are in the background with blue sky.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns which are shown in the foreground of this photo. The basalt columns lead directly to the sea.