It’s time to pour a local libation of choice and enjoy a little game of Leelanau County who knows what. Whether you’ve lived here forever or visit once a year, we hope you discover a new bragging right about everyone’s favorite “land of delight.”

How many miles of Lake Michigan shoreline are in Leelanau County?
Hint: Triple digits! Considering that the county is surrounded on three sides by the Great Lake, it’s going to add up: 100 miles.

How many inland lakes are in the county?
It’s 33 for the win – but which is the largest? Lake Leelanau. The entire lake—which includes two bodies of water, North Lake Leelanau and South Lake Leelanau, covers about 8,608 acres. The lake is also sometimes known as – bonus points for this – Carp Lake.

How many islands are in the county?
It’s 5, but can you cough up their names? North Manitou, South Manitou, North Fox, South Fox and Gull Island. (When you look out at Gull Island in Northport Bay, now permanently preserved as a bird sanctuary by the Leelanau Conservancy, it’s hard to imagine that someone once lived there. Check out the memories of a 19-year-old housekeeper who spent the summer in what’s now the crumbled remains of a Harvard professor’s island home.) 

What are the three villages in the county?
Empire, Northport and Suttons Bay. The rest of the towns are not villages … They are townships, census-designated places or unincorporated communities.

What year was the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore voted “The Most Beautiful Place in America” by Good Morning America?
Hint: That same year Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" was No.1 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 chart.
That’s 2011. Everyone will swear that happened just a few years ago, but don’t forget the area is voted something “most” amazing nearly every year.

What year was the Grand Traverse Lighthouse built?
The year was 1852. Besides doing his normal lighthouse keeper duties, the light's second keeper — the 'indomitable' Philo Beers — reportedly managed to drive off raiding Mormon pirates who were followers of James Jesse Strang, the self-proclaimed King of Beaver Island. For the full history, head here.

How many legs does Omena’s mayor have?
4. Omena’s official mayor is a very mellow, yellow lab named Rosie. 

Before it became an airport terminal, the distinctive stone structure at Clinton F. Woolsey Memorial Airport in Northport was used as what?
Hint: Moo. The stone building was a dairy farm creamery, which Northport’s Byron Woolsey built when he was a teenager. It is now in the process of being restored by Leelanau Township and those who care about the iconic landmark. 

What was Omena’s original name?
You won’t believe this! The people who settled the area in 1850 came from Old Mission – so they named the area – New Mission. A little Omena fact: A fruit stand in the 1930’s became a Texaco station, and later, the Harbor Bar. It is now the home of Leelanau Cellars and Knot Just a Bar Restaurant. Head here for more quirky and curious Omena history.

What is the largest moving sand dune in the world?
Obviously, everyone is screaming the Sleeping Bear Dunes right now. But make them guess how big those dunes are: Thirty-five miles; 71,000 acres. And what year was Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore established? 1970. Head here for more facts on our favorite pile of sand.

What does Eyaawing mean?
“Who we are” in Anishinaabemowin, the traditional language of the federally recognized Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Peshawbestown’s Eyaawing museum is closed due to COVID, but its page has great history info.)

Flashback to 1983. How many wineries are on the Leelanau Peninsula?
4: Boskydel Vineyards of Lake Leelanau, Leelanau Wine Cellars of Omena, Good Harbor Vineyards of Leland and Mawby Vineyards of Suttons Bay. Today there are over 30 wineries across the peninsula, including those that are part of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail, which also — fun fact — was Michigan’s first. 

What was the population of Leelanau County in the 2020 Census?
22,301. Do not allow a single digit higher or lower than the actual answer. Be strong.

What percentage of Leelanau is water?
Leelanau County has the second-highest proportion of water area of any county in the United States, behind only Keweenaw County in Michigan. The county has a total area of 2,532 square miles, of which 347 square miles is land and 2,185 square miles is water. Get out your calculators, people. (Just kidding, the answer is 86 percent.)

What is the name of the iconic stone found along Lake Michigan shores?
Petoskeys, of course – but bonus points for Leland Blues. Visit here for a great description of what Leland Blues actually are. Try Van’s Beach in Leland after a stormy night to see if there’s any Leland Blues turned over in the waves – early winter is a good time to hunt (until it's iced in) because there are fewer people along the lakeshore and bigger wave action as the winter storms arrive.

What dog breed made its mark by trying to set a record as the world’s “Second Largest Gathering” of the breed in Leelanau County?
Golden Retrievers. Northwest Michigan Golden Retrievers Club’s annual event drew 146 fluffy, adorable dogs at Jacob’s Corn Maze. Meanwhile, Golden, Colorado boasts up to 1,000 dogs at its annual gathering. We are gaining on them!  

What parallel does Leelanau County sit upon?
The 45th parallel – halfway between the equator – and – our nod to Christmas Eve – the North Pole!

Clockwise: Woolsey airport terminal by Tom Wetherbee;  Lake Leelanau Narrows by Bobbie Collins; Sleeping Bear Dunes in winter by Kerry Kelly; Mawby winery.