Sip, Spook & Squid: Fall Adventures in Seattle Southside

This fall, Seattle Southside is brimming with flavor, fun, and festive thrills—making it one of the region’s most dynamic seasonal destinations. Visitors can step into the spotlight at the brand-new Great Big Game Show, or embrace the season’s spookier side with haunted factory tours, witches’ teas, and eerie encounters on a “Bewitching Time” itinerary.

And for those seeking a truly local experience, squid season brings Puget Sound to life with easy, affordable dockside fishing. Whether you’re raising a glass, playing under the lights, chasing thrills, or reeling in dinner, Seattle Southside offers an unforgettable lineup of autumn adventures just minutes from downtown Seattle.

Seattle Southside’s Coffee Scene Brings the World to Your Mug
Speaking of brews, Seattle might be synonymous with coffee culture, but just south of downtown lies a treasure trove of cafés serving up global flavors you won’t find at the usual chains. Seattle Southside offers inventive drinks and rich cultural stories behind each sip:

Kappa Espresso in SeaTac roasts its own single-origin beans sourced from Ethiopia, offering a community-centered café with vibrant décor and a loyal following. Their standout drink, the Ethiopian Breve, mixes espresso with steamed creamer and honey ginger syrup—a modern twist on traditional East African coffee culture.

Neighborhood Café
blends American brunch classics with Filipino and broader Asian influences. Its menu features bold drink innovations like the Ube Latte—a velvety, purple yam-infused treat—and seasonal specials like pumpkin spice drinks made with real pumpkin puree. If you're unsure what to try, go for a coffee flight and sample four mini beverages that span the café’s eclectic range. In addition to its Tukwila cafe, it has two locations in the airport; one just opened in the pre-security area, making it the perfect location for welcoming guests to SEA.

Chayen Coffee started in a humble trailer and has now moved to a permanent home, serving up authentic Thai iced coffee (bold coffee with sweetened condensed milk and cream) from the lobby of Tukwila’s Hotel Interurban. They also rotate creative seasonal offerings—like a Peony Latte—that capture both tradition and innovation.

Star Coffee Restaurant offers a traditional Ethiopian experience in SeaTac. This full-service Ethiopian restaurant offers a genuine taste of East Africa with its traditional black Ethiopian coffee—dark, smooth, and rich, served alongside hearty platters. It’s a hub for travelers and locals seeking culture in every sip.

Second Love Coffee Roasters – A small batch, ethically sourced roastery, now in Des Moines. Expect specialty drinks like black sesame vanilla lattes and coffee tonics, locally sourced pastries, and transparent pricing showing exactly how much profit they make.

Find more coffee spots here.

Lights, Buzzers, Action! New Interactive Game Show Experience Debuts
Seattle Southside just got a lot more fun with the opening of the Great Big Game Show, an all-new interactive entertainment venue where guests don’t just watch a show—they star in it. Opening October 2025.

From the moment you step into the set, you’re transported into the high-energy world of a live game show, complete with flashing lights, digital scoreboards, and classic buzzers. Teams of friends, families, or coworkers compete in laugh-out-loud challenges that blend trivia, puzzles, and physical games. It’s designed to be inclusive, approachable, and endlessly entertaining—perfect for celebrations, team building, or just a quirky night out.

The best part? No two shows are the same. Every round is packed with surprises, fast-paced gameplay, and over-the-top fun that keeps everyone engaged, whether you’re answering questions on stage or cheering from the sidelines.

Located at Westfield Southcenter, Great Big Game Show joins Seattle Southside’s growing lineup of immersive experiences, offering a one-of-a-kind attraction that appeals to groups of all ages.

From Haunted Factories to Witches Tea: Southside’s Bewitching Season

This fall, Seattle Southside is casting a spell with a bewitching lineup of spooky, playful, and only-here experiences—perfect for seasonal features. Just minutes from downtown Seattle, the region is serving up everything from haunted history to immersive new attractions:

The Escape Game Seattle Southcenter – This brand-new experience in Tukwila’s Westfield Southcenter drops guests into hyper-realistic adventures where they must work together to solve clues, crack codes, and escape before time runs out. With themes like prison breaks, art heists, and secret missions, it’s a thrilling addition for groups and families this fall.

A Haunted Escape Room Experience at a Chocolate Factory– Step inside Maeve’s Seattle Chocolate Factory in Tukwila for a unique, space-themed challenge. Climb aboard a haunted spaceship in search of cosmic cacao, solve puzzles, and take home locally made chocolate.

Marina Mercantile
– Cozy up with a whimsical Witches Tea at this locally owned spot in Des Moines. Enjoy traditional tea service with a three-tiered tray of fresh-baked scones, spooky cookies, and tea sandwiches served amid festive décor.

Zenith Holland Nursery – Fall comes alive with lush seasonal displays and photo ops, pumpkins, and autumn blooms in one of the region’s oldest nurseries, located in Des Moines. You can also sign up for a class
to make your own pumpkin succulent decoration to take home, which is offered on many dates through October.

Seattle Tacoma Pet Cemetery – As the oldest pet cemetery in the state and now a King County historical landmark, this tranquil burial ground in Kent has served as the final resting place for over 1,000 beloved animals for over 70 years. It even holds cremated remains of humans who wished to be laid to rest with their pets, creating a hauntingly beautiful testament to love and memory.

Dimension XR – A cutting-edge immersive escape room and AR hub in Tukwila featuring zombies, haunted houses, and more for thrill seekers.

Waterland Howl-O-Ween & Market: Hosted by A Dog’s Dream and Marina Mercantile, this fall market on October 25 will feature six local vendors offering everything from candles and soaps to baked goods, original art, and Halloween-themed flash tattoos. Next door, A Dog’s Dream will host a pet costume contest where you can vote for your favorites on their Instagram.

Attend a Halloween-themed event at the Museum of Flight:
Haunted Skies: On October 17, attend a 21+ Halloween celebration inspired by the fearless “Night Witches” of WWII. Guests can explore moonlit galleries, enjoy tarot readings and ghost stories, and compete in a spirited costume contest for an unforgettable night.

Museum of Fright: On October 26, the museum is hosting a family-friendly, costume-clad day with festive Halloween-themed activities and games.

Together, these stops create an itinerary that blends cozy autumn charm with spine-tingling thrills. Whether sipping enchanted tea, solving puzzles with friends, or exploring haunted spaces, Seattle Southside is the ultimate fall getaway.

Squid Season Splashes into Seattle Southside
From November through early winter, Puget Sound fills with squid, making it easy (and affordable) for anyone with a light, jig, and shellfish license to catch their own fresh calamari right from the public pier.

The best time to squid is at night—especially during high tide or a full moon—since that’s when they feed most actively. Head to a well-lit spot like the Des Moines Marina pier and drop a glowing squid jig straight down, gently lifting and lowering it to mimic shrimp. When you feel weight on your line and the pole bends, reel in and flip the squid into your bucket (watch out for ink!). Be patient—it’s a waiting game until schools of squid swim by, but when they do, you’ll haul in plenty in quick succession. Learn more about gear and other tips and tricks
here.