Best answer: maybe head down to park slope and cruise through 5th ave? lots of little shops there. then head over to prospect park and crunch through a bunch of fallen leaves. after that, drive over to the waterfront and piers in brooklyn heights to get some nice views of the city. for pizza, while you're in that neighborhood you can hit up Juliana's (the real Grimaldi's).
posted by cristinacristinacristina at 7:18 AM on November 29, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I respectfully disagree about car culture in Brooklyn, since our spoke-and-hub subway system makes driving a far better option for intra-boro transit.

Of course, street parking isn't always fun, but it's easy to park once in a given neighborhood and plan to do a lot of walking. I don't know how this will fly with kids in that age range, so give yourself lots of wiggle room and try to keep things loose.

If you're starting in Greenpoint, pack some Peter Pan Donuts for the ride (but you didn't need me to tell you that). Since it's vaguely on the way, and since I'm sure they want to experience Williamsburg, you might stop at Desert Island on Metropolitan, hidden behind a former bakery sign, to pick up some comix for those seeking distraction. Then, since you've got a car, why not head out to Red Hook and enjoy brunch at Hope & Anchor? It's spacious and delicious. Plus, the segment of the BQE that loops around Brooklyn Heights provides the most majestic views of Manhattan. While you're in Red Hook, you might enjoy the Waterfront Museum, situated on an awesome barge and only open Saturdays from 1-5pm (it has a sweet Rube Goldberg machine), or perhaps you'd like to pick up some Steve's Key Lime Pies (their cool shop is situated in a hidden little industrial corner of Red Hook with cobblestone streets and lots of factories). Next, I'd definitely head to the Slope to check out the Superhero Supply Co. If everybody's tired of driving already and feeling up for some physical activity, maybe I'd head Gowanus-ward to spend a couple hours scrambling up walls at Brooklyn Boulders. Fun for all ages. Then: lunch! Pizza! Spumoni Gardens, in Bensonhurst, is the place to trek to. They've got a parking lot, and divine Sicilian slices. It'll take you halfway across Brooklyn, but that's why you're driving, right? On the way back, you might be able to experience the famed Dyker Heights Christmas lights. Things start lighting up right after Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure if this weekend will be too soon for you to experience the real deal. But either way, you can park on the side of the Belt just under the Verrazano and enjoy its ridiculous size and the huge ships floating up the Narrows beneath it. And finally, on my way back to Greenpoint, I would park in DUMBO, take in the aforementioned Ice Cream Factory, or Jacques Torres (whose chocolate factory is right next door to their retail store!), perhaps stop at powerHouse Books, and then walk around under the bridges. The ever-expanding park is lovely, and it comes replete with an awesome little beach under the Manhattan Bridge.

Look. This is ambitious. It's already 11, and you've got young kids. But my argument is that driving around Brooklyn gives you the complete freedom to explore America's fourth largest city while pivoting on the fly, experiencing some beautiful sights and entertaining kith and kin of all ages. You guys should hop in the car, fire up Yelp and pretend there's no such thing as peak oil. If you're hungry, eat. If you want to see the sights, open your eyes. If you want to play, play. You can only plan so much.

Happy Thanksgiving!
posted by thejoshu at 8:00 AM on November 29, 2013 [10 favorites]

Best answer: I'm a big fan of aimlessly driving around Brooklyn and have done so many times, and I feel it's an activity that doesn't necessarily require a lot of advance planning. You don't need to worry about planning a lot of stops, as driving through an area with so many distinct and wildly different neighborhoods will be plenty interesting for your guests on its own, and you can make stops as needed/requested. As long as the non-driving adult has access to a smartphone you can adjust your route as desired and look up things to do nearby. Since you'll have several kids of rather disparate ages I think you'll have more luck letting them guide the trip as it happens rather than overplan and having them complain/disagree about where they're going.

ROUTES TO TAKE:
Bedford Ave or Franklin/Wythe Ave: Will take you north/south between Greenpoint - Williamsburg - Bed-Stuy - Crown Heights - Lefferts Garden - Flatbush and all points south

Ocean Parkway between Coney Island and Prospect Park

Loop around Prospect Park

4th Ave from Atlantic Ave all the way down to the tip of Bay Ridge, and either back up to follow the D/N from where they split from the R or down the Cross Bay Parkway towards Coney Island

Grand Army Plaza - Eastern Parkway - Broadway Junction - Broadway - Broadway Triangle. From Broadway Triangle you can take Graham Ave. back into Williamsburg/Greenpoint or take Flushing Ave. to head towards Downtown Brooklyn

Drive around Green-Wood Cemetery

If they don't mind leaving Brooklyn:
Flatbush ave all the way to the Rockaways, then drive up and down along the water (note that this requires crossing a bridge with a $3.50 toll)
McGuinness Boulevard into Astoria, then to Astoria Park (great views, free parking)

You can also let each kid take turns picking a random destination/direction/neighborhood.

THINGS TO DO:

I don't have any specific recommendations for individual places but I would look through some of Gothamist's Best Of lists, either to earmark some places to stop by in each area you pass through or to let the kids look through the lists and pick a few places they're interested in stopping by.

While I love the Brooklyn waterfront and definitely think you should bring them there, keep in mind that it will be particularly cold and windy there and it might not be tolerable to walk around for extended periods of time.
posted by fox problems at 12:26 PM on November 29, 2013 [2 favorites]