The ultimate outdoor escape

Talk of the town: Every volcanic eruption in the US over the past 200 years has occurred in the Cascades. The 1980 eruption of Mt St Helens, which claimed 57 lives, was the last major occurrence.

Noteworthy for: The North Cascades has over 300 glaciers, more than any other park in the lower 48 US states.

Less than three hours drive from Seattle, Washington state's slice of the Cascade Range, known as the North Cascades, is a breathtaking alpine wilderness. Punctuated by old-growth forests, alpine lakes, waterfalls, wild flower meadows and two of the world's most fascinating volcanoes - Mt St Helens and Mt Rainier - there is much to see here.

It's free to visit the park on your own steam, which has several access points with their own visitor information centers, from where you can embark on solo or guided tours. Alternately, sustainable tour operator EverGreen Escapes offer a Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens overnight escape, and a luxurious, multi-day Cascadian cuisine adventure. Come winter, Mt Baker, the most glaciated mountain in the North Cascades, opens for skiing and boarding.