Those green Link bikes are everywhere you look these days…and so are Dayton’s watering holes! Why not combine the two and hop onto Dayton’s newest summer sensation: LINK and DRINK. The fun starts when you and your friends join the link system, and make your way across town, from UD to DAI, through South Park, Oregon and St. Anne’s! There are 27 stations throughout the downtown area to dock, discover and do Dayton!
Interestingly, many of those docks are strategically placed near some of Dayton’s favorite hang-outs – 5th Street BrewPub, Tumbleweed, DublinPub and many more. 
‘We actually followed a map,’ says Alexis Larsen, who Link and Drink is attributed to. (Some people also refer to the excursion as Tour D’Alexis in her honor.) ‘By creating a map, we were able to pinpoint how to get around to EVERY station, and of course refresh ourselves along the way!’
The idea is to see the city using public transportation and appreciating all areas of the metro area. The original Tour D’Alexis began at the station located outside of McPhersonTown.
From there, the route went in a somewhat concentric-circular fashion, ending at Riverscape.
‘What made the trip special was posting on Facebook and having friends invite us in to their homes along the way for a refreshment! It was like a community project!’ says Brent Johnson, one of the LinkDrinkers.
Here are some things the LinkDrinkers want you to know before embarking on your own special tour of the city!
*Download the BCYCLE APP. This helps you know how many bikes await at each station. Also, if there is room to drop off a bike.
*Pay attention to all traffic laws, and do not imbibe until completing trip…have water, juice, pop or a beer or two along the route. BE CAREFUL!
*Take some money for breakfast and lunch. Eating is essential in the Dayton Metro area!
*Take a camera. Pictures of the event are essential!
*Check out what there is to see along the way….DAI, Wright Brothers Museum, Oregon District…etc.
*Have a navigator to ensure you hit all stations…nothing worse than missing out on one!
*Plan the day. You can do the map quickly, but take your time!
*See attached map for food suggestions! Take a bottled water for the longer stretches.
*Figure out where you will celebrate the end of your adventure.
Certainly, there are some great festivals and events coming to downtown this summer, but to be frank, the idea of friends, bikes, food, drinks, a wonderful city and exercise all in one has to be an option that excites all Daytonians.
Rest assured, two-wheels and 10 friends is the best way to see our town!
