Look On the Bright Side

30 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Last Updated: January 20, 2026

We love the PNW, but the early sunsets and gray skies are...a lot. Here's the silver lining.

Seattle Southside is filled with easy, fun, and relatively low-cost ways to put some (metaphorical) sunshine in your life. From colorful treats to cozy diversions to thrilling indoor activities, here are 30 ways to brighten your days this winter.

Bright Bites
Turn Up the Heat
Celebrate Mid-Winter Holidays
Game Night
Sip Some Sunshine
Indoor Fun
Win Prizes for Exploring

Bright Bites

1. Head to Max's Restaurant or Chowking in Westfield Southcenter for halo-halo, a classic Filipino dessert combining ube ice cream, flan, tropical fruit preserves, beans, and milk in shaved ice.

2. Treat yourself and 11 friends to a box of colorful, chewy mochi donuts from Dochi. The Taro Pebbles donut, dipped in taro chocolate and coated in fruity cereal, will make you feel like a kid who was just told it's a snow day. Grab it in The Eatery inside Lam's Asian Seafood Market.

3. Discover buttery delights at Treat Cookies, a family-owned bakery in Burien. The pink frosted sugar cookie is a dream come true.

4. Trade your humdrum toast for a pandan lava toast at Kakigori Dessert Cafe, and pair it with a mango shaved ice topped with a cute, edible animal.

Pictured: Halo-halo at Chowking in Westfield Southcenter.

Turn Up the Heat

5. Warm up with a huge, personal bowl of hot pot at YGF MalaTang in Tukwila. At this make-your-own soup spot, everything is customizable, from the ingredients to the broth to the exact level of spice you crave.

6. Can't get enough Flamin' Hot Cheetos? Try your favorite snack in a novel way: sprinkled on esquites (Mexican street corn) at Sweet D'licias, rolled onto a hot dog at Myungrang Korean Hotdog, or dusted onto fries at Round1 Bowling & Arcade.

7. Find out your spice limits at Supreme Wings in Tukwila, a halal wings spot where you can find wings seasoned with peri peri (African Bird's Eye Chili), mango habanero, or, if you're really up for a challenge, the Xtreme Buffalo made with Carolina Reaper, one of the world's hottest, most intense peppers.

Pictured: Make-your-own hot pot at YFG MalaTang in Tukwila.

Celebrate Mid-Winter Holidays

8. Attend one of many different Lunar New Year events happening throughout February, including a big show at Westfield Southcenter on February 14, 2026.

9. Get in the Mardi Gras spirit at Creole Soul, where festive decor and authentic Creole food make every day feel like a holiday.

10. Attend Brazilian Carnival at The Roadhouse (located right at the Angle Lake Light Rail station).

11. Get in the spirit of Valentine's Day by loading up on chocolate or planning a memorable date night.

Check out more seasonal events in our Event Calendar.

Pictured: Lunar New Year at Westfield Southcenter Mall in Tukwila, Washington.

Gather Friends for a Screen-Free Game Night

12. Go old school with a bingo, trivia, or cribbage night at Quarterdeck, a cozy seaside cafe with craft beer and mulled wine. (See our Event Calendar for upcoming dates).

13. Grab a board game off the shelves at Oppegaard Meadery, order a round of mead, and post up in a rustic, Viking-inspired setting.

14. Go head-to-head with friends (or strangers!) at the Great Big Game Show, where a real, live host leads you in round after round of thrilling competitions.

15. Work with a team to solve a puzzle in an immersive, cinematic setting at The Escape Game.

Dive Into Outdoor Adventures

16. Thought scuba diving was only for warm weather? Winter is actually Northwest divers' favorite season because the water is clear and you can spy plenty of fascinating marine creatures. Check out Eight Diving for classes and gear.

17. You don't have to jump in to see and even touch marine life, though. Just head to Highline College's MaST Center Aquarium, which is free and open to the public on Saturdays. Lines get super long in the summer, so winter is a great time to check it out.

18. Winter is also the peak season for squidding, another popular Northwest pastime.

19. For a more low-key way to enjoy the waterfront, walk along the Redondo Beach boardwalk and keep your eyes peeled for seals, sea lions, and occasionally even whales in the distance.

Sip Some Sunshine

20. Drive up to SeaTac's Latino Cafe and choose from a rainbow of drinks. It's hard to stay glum when you're sipping a neon blue "Smurf" or a Barbie-pink "Rosa".

21. Order breakfast with fresh-squeezed orange juice at Pancake Chef; it's like sunshine in a glass.

22. Grab a seasonal wintery cocktail (or mocktail) at Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar, like the "Edge of the Woods" made with Douglas Fir syrup and cherry liqueur.

23. Get a coffee or matcha flight at Neighborhood Cafe. The beautiful presentation alone will lift your spirits before you've taken a sip.

24. Branch out from your usual boba order with something bold and bright, like the Passion Mango Lemonade with boba or lychee jelly at Mochinut.

Pictured: The Passion Mango Lemonade with Boba at Mochinut in Tukwila

Embrace Indoor Fun

25. Reconnect with your childhood playing retro games like Pac-Man and pinball at Waterland Arcade. (Only $15 for a full day of unlimited play)!

26. Get your real-life Mario Kart on racing electric go-karts at K1 Speed.

27. Round up some friends and go bowling at Bowlero or Round1 Bowling & Arcade.

28. Spend a day at Family Fun Center playing arcade games, racing bumper cars, and lots more.

29. Feel your spirits soar as you fly (literally) into the air at iFLY Indoor Skydiving.

Win Prizes for Exploring New Places

30. Make a game of exploring the region by signing up for one of Explore Seattle Southside's trails and winning prizes for exploring. The UFO Mysteries Trail takes you through the eerie legend of one of the first UFO sightings in U.S. history. The Seattle Southside Scenes Trail highlights fascinating sites and stories throughout the region. The Happy Hour Trail includes all the best deals on drinks and bites, and the Bubble Tea Trail lists more than 20 boba spots.

Happy exploring!

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