- Franklin Falls (wta.org)
Hiking with kids, new to hiking, or just looking for an easy day hike with a spectacular endpoint? Look no further than Franklin Falls! At just 2 miles roundtrip with 400 feet in elevation gain it is the perfect destination for any hiker looking for something easy and beautiful.
- Franklin Falls Trail 1036 (fs.usda.gov)
A favorite hike for families, the Franklin Falls Trail follows the south fork of the Snoqualmie River for a mile, skirting a canyon with glimpses of deep pools and cascades in the river below as it descends the upper South Fork Valley below Snoqualmie Pass. The descent to the base of the 70-foot falls is steep and slippery but plenty of visitors make it down to eat lunch or cool in the mist of the plunge pool. It is an easy walk that rises gradually through old growth forests with views of the river. The trail ends at the base of Franklin Falls.
- Kalmykia (Wikipedia)
Kalmykia, officially the Republic of Kalmykia, is a republic of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region of Southern Russia. The republic is part of the Southern Federal District, and borders Dagestan to the south and Stavropol Krai to the southwest; Volgograd Oblast to the northwest and north and Astrakhan Oblast to the north and east; Rostov Oblast to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. Through the Caspian Depression, the Kuma river forms Kalmykia’s natural border with Dagestan. Kalmykia is the only region in Europe where Buddhism is the predominant religion.