Great Volcano Vacations

Mount St. Helens National Monument, Washington

Last Eruption: 2008

Why It’s Cool: Drive the winding roads and you’ll get an eyeful of how the 1980 eruption irreparably reshaped the landscape. (A helicopter trip will give you a bird’s-eye view of the destruction.) For a more intimate experience, hike the Harmony Trail that drops down to Spirit Lake, which is partly blanketed by a log mat (the result of downed trees swept off the slopes). On the other side of the monument, stop by the Johnston Ridge Observatory with views directly into the crater and the still-steaming lava dome. Then hike the Boundary Trail for its eye-popping views into the heart of the blast zone.

Hot Tour Company: Reserve a spot on one of the Mount St. Helens Institute’s geologist-guided volcano climbs (360/449-7887).