On this page you will find our most recent "Leelanau on Location" features. They are packed with information about towns, locations, venues and other places in Leelanau County, Michigan.
Explore the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Over on our Absolute Michigan web site, we're featuring Leelanau's own National Lakeshore in Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It begins:
The October 21, 1970 Act of Congress that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore declared that "...the Congress finds that certain outstanding... (05/08/2008)
The Leelanau Trail
The Leelanau Trail is a non-motorized trail extending 15 miles, roughly north and south. The trail follows along part of the east side of the Leelanau Peninsula, from Suttons Bay to Traverse City. It follows the early 20th-century railroad beds of what came to be know as the Leelanau Transit... (04/10/2008)
Bay View Trail
The Bay View Trail is divided into small loops that total 8 miles. There are many exciting things to see along its many different routes. Part of the trail runs directly behind the barn of the Charles Olsen Farm which is home to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. The Port Oneida School [...] (04/10/2008)
Empire Bluff Trail
The Empire Bluff trail leads walkers on a 1.5 mile round trip hike up to the bluff looking out over Lake Michigan and towards South Bar Lake. When the weather is clear you can see South Manitou Island.
To get more information on the Empire Bluff, you can visit the National Parks Service site... (04/10/2008)
Alligator Hill Trail
Alligator Hill Trail comes equipped with beautiful views of both Lake Michigan and Big Glen Lake. Alligator Hill has a total of nine miles of trail, which are divided into different loops, the hike is very hilly and passes through beautiful Michigan forests.
The 1.5 mile hike from the Stocking Road... (04/10/2008)
Sleeping Bear Point Trail
The Sleeping Bear Point Trail takes you on a spectacular climb ascending from forested dunes all the way to open dunes. You can either follow the trail around in a 2.8 mile loop, or you can detour and walk down to the beach for a nice cool dip on a hot day - but please [...] (04/10/2008)
The Whaleback
One of Leelanau County’s more famous geographical landmarks is known as The Whaleback.
Jutting out into Lake Michigan just south of Leland, the Whaleback was so named for obvious reasons. When viewed from the north or south along the shoreline or just offshore, the geological formation is shaped... (04/10/2008)
Pyramid Point Trail
The Pyramid Point trail is a 2.7 mile loop, with a small spur that that climbs up to overlook Lake Michigan. As you hike you will pass through three different environments, maple-beech forest, high bluffs, and meadow. The trail does include several steep hills, but like so many other trails in... (04/09/2008)
Good Harbor Beach
A magnificent beach along a stretch of Good Harbor Bay. This beach offers clear views out to the islands and has a long sandy beach. Just a few seconds walk south is a stream running from the woods into Lake Michigan. The stream is great for kids to play in, fun to follow into the [...] (04/09/2008)
North Manitou Island
Since the 1800s this island has been a popular harbor and fueling station. By the late 1840s there were piers on both the eastern and western sides of the island. The steamers traveling to and from Chicago and the Straits of Mackinac stopped at these piers to refuel. The island was inhabited for a... (04/09/2008)
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse
The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is located inside of the Leelanau State Park on the Lake Michigan shoreline at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The lighthouse was occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 until it was closed in 1972. It has since been restored to resemble the keeper's house of... (04/09/2008)
South Manitou Island
South Manitou Island is an uninhabited island just off the coast of west Leelanau County. In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries the island was a popular harbor and fueling station. In the 1800s the island was inhabited by farmers - their buildings, equipment, schoolhouse, and cemetery still remain... (04/08/2008)
Lake Leelanau
Located in the heart of the Leelanau Peninsula, Lake Leelanau is a pristine lake running through almost the entire county. Lake Leelanau appears to be two lakes, and is even referred to as North Lake Leelanau and South Lake Leelanau, but the two lakes are connected by what is known as "The... (04/08/2008)
Glen Lake
According to the Leelanau Conservancy "Glen Lake, framed by a dramatic rise of Sleeping Bear to the west, and surrounded by high-forested moraines to the east and south, presents one of the most recognizable landscapes in Michigan. The waters of Glen Lake are so pure that with increasing depth, on... (04/08/2008)
Fouch, Michigan
Fouch was originally established by an African-American, by the name of Smith, who settled on the south end of Lake Leelanau sometime before the Civil War. Smith built a dock, known as Smith's landing where settlers who lived on Lake Leelanau could dock and then walk into Traverse City to buy... (04/07/2008)
North Unity, Michigan
North Unity was a small settlement on Good Harbor Bay. It was first settled in the 1855 by Bohemian immigrants who came up the shore of Lake Michigan from Chicago to scout for a suitable place to start a settlement. The new settlers lived the first few years in a barracks that was 150 feet [...] (04/07/2008)
Burdickville, Michigan
All that remains in the area of the once thriving town of Burdickville are two lone businesses. Laker Shakes and Trattoria Funistrada. Although both Laker Shakes and Funistrada are located in Burdickville, neither can claim that they are part of the history of the town. In the late 1850s William... (04/07/2008)
Port Oneida, Michigan
In 1852 Carsten Burfiend of Hanover, Germany moved from North Manitou Island to the mainland, just west of Pyramid Point. Burfiend continued his work as a fisherman on the mainland and ferried settlers from the Manitou Islands to the mainland on his fishing boat. In 1862 Thomas Kelderhouse's dock... (04/07/2008)
Crescent City, Michigan
The first settlements in Leelanau County were on the Manitou Islands. The islands provided natural safe, deep harbors for schooners and steamers and excellent fishing. Families living on both the North and the South Manitou Islands worked as fishermen, farmers or as lumbermen to supply fuel to the... (04/07/2008)
Cedar, Michigan
The Polish community in Leelanau County originally consisted of four small settlements one or two miles apart. These settlements, Shomberg, Bodus, Cedar and Isadore began in 1868 when Polish families first started arriving in the county. The first wave of Poles in the county came to scout out the... (04/04/2008)
Greilickville, Michigan
Greilickville today cannot be distinguished from Traverse City. Located just north of Traverse City on the western shore of the Grand Traverse Bay, Greilickville is the first stop in Leelanau County, and yet there is no village to stop in. The only notice that one has passed into Greilickville is a... (04/03/2008)
Lake Leelanau, Michigan
The town of Lake Leelanau is located where Lake Leelanau itself narrows. The Native Americans who lived in the area called the lake "lee-lan-au" which means "delight of life." French settlers were the first to arrive in the area, coming from Canada, in the mid 1900s. They called the settlement Le... (04/03/2008)
Peshawbestown, Michigan
Peshawbestown is located just a few miles south of Omena and is part of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians'. The Leelanau Sands Casino is located in Peshawbestown and attracts many visitors every summer. Originally founded as a mission, Peshawbetown's exact history and dates are... (04/03/2008)
Omena, Michigan
Omena is a small community in Leelanau County located between Suttons Bay and Northport. Omena began in 1852 when Reverend Peter Daugherty brought a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from Old Mission and settled in what is now Omena. In 1858 the Protestant Church was dedicated, and is the oldest... (04/03/2008)
Suttons Bay, Michigan
Suttons Bay is a charming village located on the western shore of Leelanau County. Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and farms, Suttons Bay's unique charm reflects these surroundings. In 1854 Harry C. Sutton settled in the area with a crew of woodsmen and soon began supplying fuel to the passing... (04/03/2008)
Leland, Michigan
Leland is on the western shore of the Leelanau Peninsula, between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. The Carp River (known to locals as the Leland River) connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan and runs through the village. Leland is well known for its 140 year old historic fishing village, Fishtown.... (04/03/2008)
Northport, Michigan
"Pleasantly situated on a safe and capacious harbor of the bay," Northport is located near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The surrounding area is filled with cherry and apple orchards, as well as many terrific vineyards. Northport was one of the earliest settlements in Leelanau County. In 1849... (04/03/2008)
Leelanau.com's map of Leelanau County - powered by Google!
We have started on a new map of Leelanau County and the nearby area. After looking at the available options, we decided to build it using Google Maps. We're adding short entries on the map that link to longer entries in our Leelanau Blog that will be posted under the map category and feature photos... (03/31/2008)
Glen Arbor, Michigan
Glen Arbor is located on a small strip of land between Glen Lake and Lake Michigan in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake's natural beauty attracts visitors throughout the summer. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire state, local legend says that... (03/31/2008)
Empire, Michigan
Empire is the southernmost town in Leelanau County and is approximately 25 miles due west of Traverse City. Empire is located in the center of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Empire is well know for its breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, the dunes, and... (03/30/2008)
Ski Leelanau: Downhill & Cross-Country Ski Reports, Links & Updates
We have re-launched our Ski Leelanau! page for the 2007-2008 ski season.
We'll be posting regular ski reports for the Homestead Resort's Bay Mountain ski area and nearby Crystal Mountain. We also have cross-country trail reports and a blizzard of skiing and winter fun links and photos for Leelanau... (12/07/2007)
Leelanau.com Category Pages
I hope that anyone who has been following Leelanau.com for a while has seen that we've really been picking up the level of stories and presentation over the last couple of years.
It may have been hard for the casual visitor to see just how much information is contained here and to easily access it.... (08/22/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Crescent City, on North Manitou Island
When I saw this photo of a tent under the stars on North Manitou Island by Chris Arace, my second thought - right after Wow! - was "Hey, didn't Cody write some stories about Ghost Towns of Leelanau?" Sure enough, she had...
The Manitou Islands were the first places in Leelanau County to become... (08/20/2007)
Leelanau on Location: The Villages of Leelanau!
Cody has posted Leelanau on Location entries for all the towns in Leelanau County. They are packed full of history and links and we're hoping that you will add your comments (and links) to the pages to make them even better resources!
You can click for the pages for Cedar, Glen Arbor,... (08/08/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Cedar
The Polish community in Leelanau County originally consisted of four small settlements one or two miles apart. These settlements, Shomberg, Bodus, Cedar and Isadore began in 1868 when Polish families first started arriving in the county. The first wave of Poles in the county came to scout out the... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Maple City
Maple City is nestled in the heart of Leelanau County in a grove of grand maples trees. The countryside around Maple City is hilly with many farms, orchards, and lakes. Many
Maple City settlers came to the area because of the Homestead Act of 1862 which "allowed anyone to file for a quarter-section... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Lake Leelanau
The town of Lake Leelanau is located where Lake Leelanau itself narrows. The Native Americans who lived in the area called the lake "lee-lan-au" which means "delight of life." French settlers were the first to arrive in the area, coming from Canada, in the mid 1900s. They called the settlement Le... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Peshawbestown
Peshawbestown is located just a few miles south of Omena and is part of the Grand Traverse Indian Reservation, which is owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. The village is composed of a community center, Indian art store, medicine lodge, governmental center, Strongheart... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Omena
Omena is a small community in Leelanau County located between Suttons Bay and Northport.
Omena began in 1852 when Reverend Peter Daugherty brought a band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from Old Mission and settled in what is now Omena. In 1858 the Protestant Church was dedicated, and today is the... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Suttons Bay
Suttons Bay is a charming village located on the western shore of Leelanau County. Surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and farms, Suttons Bay's unique charm reflects these surroundings.
In 1854 Harry C. Sutton settled in the area with a crew of woodsmen and soon began supplying fuel to the passing... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Northport
"Pleasantly situated on a safe and capacious harbor of the bay," Northport is located near the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. The surrounding area is filled with cherry and apple orchards, as well as many terrific vineyards.
Northport was one of the earliest settlements in Leelanau County. In 1849... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Leland
Leland is on the western shore of the Leelanau Peninsula, between Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. The Carp River (known to locals as the Leland River) connects Lake Leelanau to Lake Michigan and runs through the village. Leland is well known for its 140 year old historic fishing village, Fishtown.... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Glen Arbor
Glen Arbor is located on a small strip of land between Glen Lake and Lake Michigan, which is located in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Glen Lake's natural beauty attracts visitors throughout the summer. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire state,... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Empire
Empire is the southernmost town in Leelanau County and is approximately 25 miles due west of Traverse City. Empire is located in the center of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, on the shore of Lake Michigan. It is well know for its breathtaking views of Lake Michigan, the dunes, and the... (08/01/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Greilickville
Greilickville today is hard to distinguish from Traverse City. Located just north of Traverse City on the western shore of the Grand Traverse Bay, Greilickville is the fist stop in Leelanau County, and yet it looks like it is still part of Travers City. The only notice that one has passed into... (08/01/2007)
Woolsey Memorial Airport
The Woolsey Memorial Airport is a public airport located three miles Northeast of Northport. The runway is turf, and there is no control tower. The airport is closed from November to March when the runway is covered with snow.
Every year they host the Woolsey Airport Fly-in and Pancake Breakfast... (07/31/2007)
Leelanau on Location: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb
It may be fashionable to dis the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb, but step for step, it's one of the most fun things for families (and people who like to run at extremely high speeds) to do in the state of Michigan and the payoff for hiking up that wall of sand is [...] (07/09/2007)
Leelanau on Location: The Old Art Building
Since the early 1920s when the Walter T. Best Women's Club organized the effort, the building on the south bank of the Leland River has hosted social and cultural events, some as famous as the lecture and entertainment series of the Redpath Chautauqua Assembly Circuit. In 1939, the building was... (07/06/2007)
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