5 Brooklyn Strolls to Walk Off (Some of) Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Before you give in to the tryptamine from all that turkey, here are five Brooklyn strolls to help you walk off your Thanksgiving dinner and make it (almost) a guilt-free feast.

Fort Greene: Take a tour of Brooklyn’s brownstone belt by taking either the C train to Lafayette Avenue or the G train to Fulton Street and exploring the tree-lined residential area. From Fort Greene Park and the Brooklyn Academy of Music to the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument and Pratt Institute, enjoy the relative peace ensured by Thanksgiving night in the usually bustling neighborhood. While Barclays Center — across the street in Prospect Heights — is certainly a sight with its pulsing crowds, the holiday evening will be a wonderful chance to observe the building’s stunning Corten steel facade without having to push to the front.

Most people burn roughly 100 calories per mile walked, so at 2.21 miles total, you’d likely burn a whopping 200 calories and change on this Fort Greene stroll. If you didn’t gorge yourself, that might be your entire turkey serving, burned away!

Coney Island: Once an island full of rabbits, Coney Island has long since been transformed into the People’s Playground, an affordable and historic amusement park open to one and all. Ride the D, F, N or Q train to the end of the line and take a walk down the boardwalk, along the water and perhaps up the fishing pier. Be sure to see the Wonder Wheel, Cyclone and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs shop — although that shouldn’t be too difficult, as they’re all fairly hard to miss.

The shortest walk on the list, this jaunt is just short of a mile at 5,100 feet. If you ate only a standard portion of cranberry sauce, consider that not eaten!

Williamsburg: Known by many as the hippest neighborhood in Brooklyn, there’s always more to see in Williamsburg. Starting at the Bedford Avenue L train station, a right turn will take you to the heart of the artisan-centric area. The mapped double-park route above will take you through both McCarren Park and Bushwick Inlet Park. Brooklyn Brewery and Brooklyn Bowl are also on the route, although you’ll probably be too full for beer or bowling (and they likely won’t be open anyway).

All together this stroll is the list’s longest, at 3.63 miles. Round up and you’ve got 4 miles, so 400 calories. According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American takes in 4,500 calories at their Thanksgiving dinner, so 400 calories is a decent dent. Go ahead and eat an extra slice of pecan pie.

Park Slope: This residential historic district is chock full of Brooklyn’s beloved brownstone housing crop, as well as other iconic borough homes types. The 33-block Park Slope Historic District is both architecturally and historically rich — and prime for strolling, either aimless or directed. Well serviced by the subway, taking the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza or the B/Q to 7th Avenue will get you started on your on your Park Slope wanderings — and from there just follow the map!

If you didn’t add cheese to your mashed potatoes, this walk just made your body forget you even ate them. At 2.27 miles, your Park Slope stroll will have burned 200 or so calories.

Brooklyn Heights: Known for being America’s first suburb and New York’s first historic district, Brooklyn Heights offers storied homes on its green streets and striking views of lower Manhattan along its Promenade. A quick walk from the A/C High Street stop, the neighborhood abounds with quaint blocks and impressive parks, including the still under works but already gorgeous Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the modest but peaceful Squibb Park.

Goodbye gravy! Count the nearly 300 calories you’ll burn strolling this 2.40 mile walk toward the scoop you put on top of your taters.

[Source: ExploreBK | Top photo: Barbara Eldredge]

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