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Kessi World

Mindful travel around the Pacific Northwest.

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Oregon State Parks

How to find magic at Oswald West State Park

January 4, 2023 by Matthew

Matthew Kessi leans against an old growth sitka spruce tree on the Oregon Coast at Oswald West State Park. He's wearing black raingear head to toe that appears very wet, with a striped colored hat. There are roots from another smaller tree and green fir branches hanging down into the shot.

Oswald West State Park seems to have it all. Old-growth giants greet visitors, ushering them through a dramatic canopy of texture and light to a beach – an alchemy of sand, rocks, and drift logs. Creeks flow to the Pacific Ocean, and 14 trails meander the rugged topography. Most people rush directly to the iconic Short Sand Beach, but way more magic is possible. This … [Read more...] about How to find magic at Oswald West State Park

10 Oregon Coast hikes to reclaim the soul

November 2, 2022 by Matthew

Waves crash along the path on a famous Oregon Coast Hike at Shore Acres State Park. The sky is a swirl of gray and blue and the water foamy as it crashes on the rock formations.

The Oregon Coast is a stellar example of nature's forces joining in inspiring the human heart to open. Majestic fir trees line steep foothills grounding the earth while different versions of moss grip forests floors like a cozy shag carpet. Rough waves churn their way through ornate rock stacks -- proudly standing as a testament to resiliency. Wide open beaches allow space … [Read more...] about 10 Oregon Coast hikes to reclaim the soul

My 10 favorite things to do in Brookings, Oregon

February 4, 2022 by Matthew

Chetco Point Park is a great thing to do in Brookings Oregon. Waves roll into shore with bright white caps, smothering over an open sandy beach while blue skies float above this scene.

Growing up in Oregon, I never made it to the Southern Oregon Coast, which includes Brookings, Oregon, hugging the final stretch of the Oregon Coast Highway. It is an out-of-the-way place unless you're traveling the entire coastline between San Francisco and the Olympic Peninsula, for example. But recently, this changed for me, and I set out on a magical tour of Southern … [Read more...] about My 10 favorite things to do in Brookings, Oregon

Overnight at Heceta Head Lighthouse — a favorite Oregon Coast experience

October 27, 2021 by Matthew

Oregon Coast scene featuring Heceta Head Lighthouse and the nearby Bed and Breakfast with layers of surf floating in and pounding on the rocks. The mountains rise up, covered in evergreen trees.

Visiting the Oregon Coast is coming home for me.  I’ve only ever known the waves crashing on the sand or spitting up through rock stacks.  The salty mist seems to cover everything with a sticky resin that helps me connect to the wild beauty of the State that raised me.  I set out on an adventure from Seattle to re-engage my longing to connect with familiar and new things.  One … [Read more...] about Overnight at Heceta Head Lighthouse — a favorite Oregon Coast experience

Yachats, Oregon Coastal dreaming

October 24, 2021 by Matthew

Yachats Oregon beach at low tide. There are hundreds of seagulls sitting on the beach with water creating a reflection while other waves lightly crash on the beach. In the background are beach homes of different colors and twisted spruce trees.

The Oregon Coast is a wild place where a little something exists for everyone. The relatively uncrowded narrow strip of land between wilderness made up of a series of National Forest timberland and frothing ocean swells smashing against the shoreline allow the heart to open and wander. There seems no better place to experience this euphoric balance than Yachats, … [Read more...] about Yachats, Oregon Coastal dreaming

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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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