15 OF THE BEST FORT HAMILTON THINGS TO DO

Introduction

Welcome to Brooklyn! Fort Hamilton is located right at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge which links Brooklyn and Staten Island, making this a good location to both get into the boroughs and drive out to the surrounding areas or beaches. The post exists to support civil authorities in the New York area and thus doesn’t have a huge permanent party. Despite being a small post, there is no shortage of things to do on and around Fort Hamilton! You’re in New York! If you’re bored, it is your fault! Know what you are looking for? Click the number(s) to go right to where you want to go: (1) Bowling (2) Pools (3-5) Parks (6) Gyms (7) Community Clubs (8-12) Nearby Attractions (13) Shopping Districts (14) Movies (15) Museums

Suggested Read:

Fort Hamilton: In-Depth Welcome Center

COVID-19 Notice

Due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, many businesses, venues and parks may be temporarily closed or operating under restricted hours. Many, if not all, of the ones listed here, are likely subject to such restrictions for the time being, though new re-openings and closings occur all the time. Therefore, a place we mention here may not currently be open or available for the time being. Check individual websites provided in each section or call to find out each place’s current hours and situation.

Fort Hamilton Things to Do

Amenities on post are somewhat limited due to its small size, but there is enough to keep you busy if you don’t feel like going far. Fort Hamilton is just a short walk from the “R” train line into Manhattan or Queens and about a 40-minute ride into Midtown. The post is also a short drive (about 3 miles) to Coney Island! Both the city and the beach are right at your fingertips, giving you plenty of things to do! Listing all the great things to do in New York could take a lifetime, so here are just a few highlights of Coney Island and Brooklyn to get you started.

Fort Hamilton Army Base Bowling

1. Bowling Center

Fort Hamilton 124 Wainwright Dr. Brooklyn, NY 11252

Phone:

1 (718)630-4440 Stop by the bowling alley for a game, Wings Thursday, the “Around the World Lunch Menu,” which rotates world cuisines every day, or just a few beers with friends over a friendly game.

Fort Hamilton Pool

2. Community Club Pool

Fort Hamilton 207 Sterling Dr. Brooklyn, NY 11252

Phone:

1 (718) 765-7368 This community pool offers daily or seasonal passes for use as well as aqua aerobics classes.

Fort Hamilton Parks

Brooklyn

3. Luna Park

1000 Surf Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224

Phone:

1 (718) 373-5682 Luna Park is THE iconic Coney Island stop along the beach boardwalk that made this entire area of Brooklyn famous. Enjoy fried food, carnival games and roller coasters just a stone's throw from the beach.

4. Brooklyn Bridge Park

334 Furman St. Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone:

1 (718) 222-9939 Located in the shadow of the iconic and historic Brooklyn Bridge, this lovely park along the East River features the historic Jane’s Carousel, gardens and walking trails, a beach, tons of restaurants, roller rinks, athletic fields and lawns and special events year round.

5. Prospect Park

Brooklyn, NY

Phone:

1 (718) 965-8951 Designed in the mid-1800s by Frederick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Manhattan’s Central Park, this beautiful park of 526 acres features ponds, running trails, restaurants, playgrounds, hiking trails and so much more. The park is a sort of central feature of Brooklyn with many of the most popular neighborhoods surrounding it.

Fort Hamilton Gym

6. Sports and Fitness Center

Fort Hamilton 402 Mac Aurthur Rd. Brooklyn, NY 11252

Phone:

1 (718) 630-4793 In addition to having a weight room and gymnasium, this center offers community fitness programs such as Tai Chi classes, 5K-runs, strength and conditioning classes, basketball sharpshooter contests, spin classes, Zumba classes and a civilian fitness program for civilian employees on post.

Fort Hamilton Community Club

7. Community Club

Fort Hamilton 207 Sterling Dr. Brooklyn, NY 11252

Phone:

1 (718) 765-7368 The Community Club features a restaurant, lounge, karaoke, catering, the community pool and special events.

Nearby Attractions

Brooklyn

8. Nathan’s Famous

1310 Surf Ave Brooklyn, NY 11224

Phone:

1 (718) 333-2202 The original and home of the world famous Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest, this iconic hot dog spot is steps away from the subway line and right by the beach, making it an must-see stop for any day out in Coney Island.

9. New York Aquarium

602 Surf Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224

Phone:

1 (718) 265-3474 This famous aquarium along the boardwalk is a short walk from the subway along Coney Island. Enjoy exhibits on all manner of marine life as well as daily sea lion shows!

10. Coney Island Boardwalk

Surf Ave. Brooklyn, NY 17003 This boardwalk and beach is a lively place with all sorts of colorful characters, street performers and events. During the summer, the shops all open and there are plenty of restaurants, beer gardens and games to enjoy.

11. Kick Axe Throwing

622 Degraw St Brooklyn, NY 11217

Phone:

1 (833) 542-5293 For a novel and fun activity, this awesome bar features axe-throwing making for a great time out with a group of friends. How can you not love chucking an axe as hard as you can and unleashing your inner viking? They have horned helmets and strap-on beards, too. Just saying.

12. Brooklyn Boulders

575 Degraw St. Brooklyn, NY 11217

Phone:

1 (347) 834-9066 You probably don’t associate New York with rock-climbing. But with two locations — one in Gowanus and another farther afield in Long Island City, Queens — Brooklyn Boulders is a super fun way to spend a day with friends. Enjoy lead climbing, top roping, bouldering and auto-belay routes as well as fitness and martial arts classes and full basement gyms and yoga studios for a reasonable price of membership.

Shopping in Brooklyn

13. Bedford Avenue

Brooklyn, NY This shopping and bar district in Williamsburg is a hipster paradise. That means tons of niche and vintage shopping, haberdasheries, craft beer spots and beer gardens like the Radegast Hall & Biergarten, dudes with beards and flannel carrying typewriters, and the Nitehawk Cinema, a one-of-a-kind theater with drinks and food showing cult and B movies along with current releases.

Fort Hamilton Movie Theater

14. Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater

Fort Hamilton 403 General Robert E. Lee Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11209

Phone:

1 (718) 482.3173 Not only does Fort Hamilton Army Base Theater play the latest blockbuster hits, it also hosts live concerts, community shows and town hall meetings. Movies are shown Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Fort Hamilton Museum

15. Harbor Defense Museum

Fort Hamilton 230 Sheridan Loop Brooklyn, NY 11252

Phone:

1 (718) 630-4349 This historic museum displays pieces from New York City and its defense efforts from the Revolutionary War to modern times. According to the reviews, you should make a reservation and have a valid ID to avoid long wait times.

Conclusion

If you are bored in New York it is 100% your fault. This is truly the city that never sleeps, and there are a million and one things to do on any given day. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Time Out New York, a weekly publication online and free at nearly every corner bar or bodega (that's a convenience store to non-New Yorkers), which lists all the biggest and most interesting coming events across New York. Get out there and explore!  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

Last Updated:

9/30/2021