Ideas for small "thank you"gifts in Europe?

Local bottles of wine? Christmas ornaments?

Any high-quality dry goods from your home area? (Good-quality chocolate or biscuits? Calendars showing the most attractive bits of your region?)

Packaged smoked salmon.

I was thinking the smoked salmon too... How about some small artwork or prints from Northwest Tribes Native American artists? Something like that is truly unique to the Seattle area.

Maple syrup Nuts, if allowed Jam

Small handcrafted items from your area of the country are always nice. Native American items seem to be 'in demand' in some areas of Europe. Lace, crocheted items, etc. are small, lightweight and easy to pack. Small and/or flat Christmas ornaments, if appropriate. Small hand-carved wooden items or fridge magnets, too.

When I lived in Wisconsin I used to give calendars with beautiful pictures of Wisconsin. It was nice I was able to share what Wisconsin looked like while I was enjoying their countryside. There are lots of calendars of the US, but the ones of the beautiful local places such as Wisconsin or Washington are not probably as easily available to Europeans. Pam

Tokens of appreciation at commercial B&Bs is kinda weird, you are just a guest paying for a room. In the s private home of friends of course its nice to give a hostess gift, but to do so in commercial places will make people feel a bit odd.. its not done in France for sure,, and likely will raise an eyebrow in Germany ( can't speak to other places but imagine its the same for any commercial inn) It might be an idea to have little cards made with your name and email address on it to give to your "new friends",, then you can stay in touch.

I think it sounds like a very thoughtful idea and really like the idea of a calendar. Something from your beautiful state and maybe a local artist, or it could also be of your favorite places throughout the US... That way it is something that is special and useful as well.
Food is another good idea but not sure I would want to be dragging around a bunch of food. The calendars won't take up much room and if you decide you do not have a connection with these folks, then just carry them on to your next destination. Have a great trip.

I am a big fan of edible or drinkable gifts. People generally have enough stuff, which is why I like to give something they can consume. However, the idea of a calendar is nice, too. Just as an example (though you won't want to go to this expense), my husband gives his extended family a calendar of pictures he has taken every year, and they love it. I imagine a calendar of the Seattle area scenery, which is so great, would over well. And calendars pack flat!

Only give gifts to private hosts, not to B&B's. Calendars or gift items made locally from your regions are going to be the best. Native American items are usually a hit in many countries. Writing a review on Trip Advisor or here on the Graffiti Wall is the best gift you can give a B&B or small hotel. This is like money in the bank for any small business.

Butterscotch candy. I heard that it is not available in Europe. When European people received butterscotch candy, they felt delighted.

Thank you all for the suggestions; we've been so immersed in the details of our trip (with assist from the Helpline!)I needed some help on this part too. For several years my husband has photographed beautiful local scenery for Christmas gift calendars, but there's no time now. Next year with images of this trip! However, you've given me ideas...an old local candy company, Brown & Haley, makes Almond Roca, chopped almonds in chocolate surrounding a small "log" of butterscotch toffee! Also, I have some wonderful handmade, handcut specialty herbal soaps from nearby islands in Puget Sound and I'll pick up fridge magnets/tree ornaments of the Space Needle/ferries/totem poles. I bought UW Husky teeshirts for the kids we'll see(their mom is a Prof at U of Budapest and taught here for Spring quarter!).
I'll bring back treats for friends here at home...Hungarian paprika, French and German mustards are great gifts!

I am from north of Seattle living in London for a few years. I sometimes need to bring small gifts back with me to London. One of the best received gifts was an oven mitt in the shape of a salmon. Pretty sure you can find them at Pikes Place Market. They are light in weight and pack well. I also bring treats from Trader Joes.

What about some Theo chocolate? I brought some home from Seattle last summer and it was one of my favorite souvenirs. The bean to bar movement is only just starting in Europe from what I understand... I'm leaving in a few weeks for France and will be staying with a friend for most of the week except for 2 days when we'll visit her parents in the countryside. I'm planning on taking them some Amano chocolate bars, which is a bean to bar chocolate made here in Provo. I think locally made chocolate is especially cool.

"The bean to bar movement is only just starting in Europe from what I understand..." Becca, I think your chocolate will make a great gift.. just wanted to mention though that bean to bar chocolate is not new in Europe and lots of companies all over Europe make it.. Bonnat Chocolatier, in France, is the oldest artisan producer of chocolate in the world and another, also French, is Valrhona, which is very popular here where I live. I still think your chocolate will be a wonderful gift.. I'm always happy when someone gives me chocolate.. :) This relates to nothing but I was so shocked by it.. I was at a high end grocery store the other day, and two artisan companies in our area now make.. chocolate covered BACON bars.. real bacon covered in gourmet chocolate.. I could not believe it...

Patricia, if you are coming through Frankfurt, can you drop off some Almond Roca? My husband would be grateful.

One current US hipster tendency I will never comprehend is the obsession with adding bacon to absolutely everything.

bean to bar chocolate is not new in Europe Nor in the UK. But European chocolate leaves American chocolate so far behind. Don't know about the artisanal US chocolate, but 100% single estate is easy to find here. Jo, send him to England on an Almond Roca run. Costco sell 1.6kg tubs of the stuff much of the year.

Patricia, When I travel I bring calendars back to people and they enjoy them. I'm sure it would work in reverse. They are flat and don't take up much room or add much weight to your bag. @Jo, I have a recipe for a pretty good replica of Almond Roca. PM me if you'd like it.

@Susan and Nigel, thanks for the correction! I've been reading various food-related books in preparation for my upcoming trip, and many mention that chocolatiers tend to not make their own chocolate, rather buying special custom blends from places like Valrhona. Most of my research is based in Paris-related sources, and Alaine Ducasse's relatively new bean to bar chocolate workshop has been cited as being very special because it is bean to bar. Sorry to spread any false information! :-) In any case, I think bean to bar chocolate is ALWAYS special and usually extremely good.