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25 Things We’re Thankful For

Thanksgiving isn’t just about food and family—it’s a time to reflect on what we're most thankful for. Here are Sunset editors’ most cherished Western places, plants, products, and more

Aislyn Greene, Elaine Johnson, Joanna Linberg, Jessica Mordo, and Johanna Silver
1 /25 Thomas J. Story

Our trees are a treat

Is there anything that beats a long, leisurely fall drive? Sure, tree-fawning is well-trod ground, but we love the riot of color that grips the West each fall. And, from gold-leafed aspens and oaks in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains to red-tipped maples in Ukiah, CA, there’s a Crayola-hued outing for everyone.

More: Top 18 spots for fall color

2 /25 Annabelle Breakey

Persimmons

We adore this unsung autumn fruit, which can be best savored starting in November when it's ready to be harvested (in other words, fully colored with that amazing shade of orange). Whether you're growing persimmons in your garden or shopping for them at the market, here are some recipes that make the seasonal ingredient sing:

Skewered Persimmon and Herb Bites

Fall Greens Persimmon Salad

Spiced Persimmon Tart with Brandy Mascarpone

3 /25 Jeffery Cross

Earthy, handmade ceramics

A bowl or plate with real heft and the telltale marks of the artist are just plain homey. On the dinner table (even on weeknights) they remind us to take pleasure in the simple things, like how fabulous green salad looks in an earthen bowl. One Western producer we particularly love: Heath Ceramics.

4 /25

Wine: Our biggest crush

There’s no denying we love our wine—and that the West is home to some of the country’s best. And, now that crush season has eased, Western wine country is yours for the sipping: Compare Pinots in Willamette Valley, Cabs in Yakima, or skip from tasting rooms to Michelin-starred restaurants in Napa.

More: Top wine regions in the West

5 /25 James Baigrie

Oregon hazelnuts

For fresh, rich flavor and sheer toasty decadence, nothing compares to hazelnuts from Oregon, where virtually all the U.S. crop grows. Look for them in your grocery store or buy them at yournw.com—and incorporate them into a sensational dish, like the one pictured (which happens to be a Thanksgiving hit).

Recipe: Browned Butter and Hazelnut Mashed Potatoes

6 /25 Jennifer Cheung

Built-in warmth

Living in the West affords us year-round opportunities to enjoy our outdoor spaces. A firepit is the ultimate addition during cooler months, giving your backyard a cozy, campfire touch. Plus it's an instant hit at any party.

More: 38 ideas for firepits

7 /25

Bald eagles are back

Thanks to massive recovery efforts over the past 30-plus years, the bald eagle is soaring once more (it was pulled from the endangered-species list in 2007). Current population count is somewhere around 10,000 nesting pairs, the bulk of which live in Alaska and Canada. In November, celebrate their revival at the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines, Alaska. baldeagles.org/festival

8 /25 Annabelle Breakey

Pumpkin and chocolate

Two great flavors taste even better when you serve them together.

More: Our favorite pumpkin-chocolate desserts

9 /25 Thomas J. Story

Imaginative designers and builders

Almost every week, a new way of living seems to pop on our radar: cargotecture, microapartments, prefabs, the revival of straw-bale homes, and passive homes. Who is driving these thoughtful and interesting changes that will filter down to improve all our living situations? The West’s forward-looking talent.

10 /25 Thomas J. Story

Growing greens

We can plant greens even in November—how lucky are we? Sow seeds early in the month and keep planting beds evenly watered.

More: How to grow greens

11 /25 Thomas J. Story

Treasure islands

We’ve long considered the San Juan Islands a Northwest treasure. But in 2012, President Obama made it official: These evergreen-studded gems are now a national monument—and just as beautiful in stormy, damp November as they are in springtime.

More: San Juan Islands weekend adventure

12 /25 Alex Farnum

Spices

Lately we've been branching out from the classic sweet spices of the season to more savory spice blends like dukkah, which does amazing things for vegetables.

Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower and Shallots with Chard and Dukkah

13 /25 Lisa Romerein

Wood’s comeback

Paneled wood walls, be they logs or slats, no longer signals “country.” Instead, this natural material is getting a mod reputation by being paired with modern elements and clean lines. And the wider visibility of FSC certification means we can feel good about it, too.

14 /25 Brown Cannon III

Epic waves

Surfing, a way of life in many parts of the West—and fascinating even if you’re not a Laird Hamilton wannabe—is at its thrilling best in November. That’s when Pacific storms begin to generate huge waves on Oahu’s North Shore, drawing pro surfers and thousands of spectators who gather for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.

More: Where to watch autumn swells

15 /25 Rachel Weill

Late-season pears

Our favorite varieties for baking—juicy Comice and dense Bosc—come into the market just when we're in the mood to crank up our ovens.

More: 25 ways with pears

16 /25 Thomas J. Story

Night lights

These DIY backyard lanterns add seasonal glow and keep us outside for longer. Bonus: they're super easy to make, using materials you can find in your local hardware and craft stores.

More: DIY tap-light luminarias

17 /25

Retail mash-ups

We don’t live in segregated categories—for the next hour I’m a reader of early 20th-century fiction, and after that I’m a foodie, until I get into my next home project—so why would we shop that way? Great examples of a clever retail remix are Lawson-Fenning in L.A. (pictured) and Book/Shop in Oakland. Sure, they both sell books, but each shop also has a stash of handsome furniture, quirky art, and small goods.

18 /25 Leigh Beisch

Winter squash

The variety of colors and shapes makes squash beautiful just to look at. In recipes, they're the star of the season—sweet, satisfying, and nutritious, too.

More: 29 ways with winter squash

19 /25

Botanical splendor

The San Francisco Bay Area's climate graces us with the most impressive outdoor botanic garden. Catch the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest Collection in bloom at the San Francisco Botanic Garden through December. See 25-foot-tall tree dahlias, golden fuchsias (Deppea splendens), and the stars of the show, tree daisies (Montanoa spp)—flowering trees that reach over 100 feet tall and litter the floor with petals referred to as “San Francisco snow.” Free; sfbg.org

20 /25 Michael Robinson / Corbis

Two words: Big. Sur.

Arguably the prettiest stretch of pavement the world over, the Big Sur Highway winds past some of the West's greatest hits—staggering redwoods, dramatic cliffs, Pacific beaches—in 72 breathtaking miles. In November, the region hosts an up-and-coming food and wine fest (www.bigsurfoodandwine.org).

More: Our insider guide to Big Sur

21 /25 Thomas J. Story

Chicories

This family of vegetables that includes endive, escarole, and radicchio has a pleasantly bitter edge and goes beautifully with fall fruits and nuts. Enjoy them in delectable recipes such as the seasonal salad pictured here.

Recipe: Radicchio Waldorf Salad with Cider Dressing

22 /25 Thomas J. Story

Permission to unplug

Finally, we don’t have to feel bad about turning off our phones, closing the laptops, and ignoring Facebook’s notifications. Turns out tuning out is good for us.

More: The unplugged home

23 /25 Audrey Hall

Powder for days

We have the hands-down best powder in the country. Let the East Coast keep those icy slopes. Skiers know to come West for the greatest light and fluffy stuff, and this month some of our most powder-packed resorts—including Utah's Alta Ski Area (alta.com), Wyoming's Grand Targhee Resort (grandtarghee.com), and Colorado's Wolf Creek Ski Area (wolfcreekski.com)—open up for the season.

More: Skiing in the West

24 /25 Antonis Achilleos

Root vegetables

They lend an earthy sweetness to so many fall dishes, but for a really fun (and delicious) surprise, try them in cupcakes.

Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

25 /25 Thomas J. Story

Foraged décor

The West's beautiful natural materials provide ample fodder for foraging that you can transform into elegant home décor. For example, this wreath was made with eucalyptus pods and leaves, lotus pods, and leucospermum found on a walk.

More: 10 natural & earthy decorating ideas