When looking for Christmas events in the area, I instantly knew I wanted to visit Ft. Vancouver over in Washington.

Having grown up near Prickett’s Fort in WV, my family and I would often visit the Revolutionary-War-era stockade for their Christmas event. Each year they served wassail and molasses cookies–a favorite of mine! So, a visit to Fort Vancouver seemed a natural fit.

We were greeted by carolers in period costumes. In fact, the fort was full of volunteers in costume to help teach visitors all about life in the 1800s.

We learned about the fur trade and settlement of the Pacific Northwest. Stephen and the boys tried their hand at throwing hatchets at targets, we climbed the corner bastion, played at hoop rolling, drank wassail.

It was a fun way to reminisce, get into the Christmas spirit, and teach the kids a little history–all under the watching eye of beautiful Mt. Hood.