Ten of us from the Suttons Bay Congregational Church had a great snowshoe hike around the DeYoung property! Dave (Amos) was a decent docent wearing Descente! You have a wealth of knowledge, Dave, and we all thank you for our history lesson.

–  Sue and Chuck Cady, Suttons Bay, MI

I know we're in for one more good snowstorm! I shot this a couple of Sundays ago on a frosty morning at sunrise. The peninsula is just a very special place. I have traveled and photographed in many beautiful areas of our country, Washington, Oregon, Calif.  There is just no place like the Leelanau Peninsula, it is very special.

–  Ron Strong, Lime Lake, MI

No matter whether it's August or February, when the early morning light peeks in my window I am compelled to grab my camera, warm coat AND the dogs, and head outside to greet the day.  At first the sky was dark and heavy with clouds.  I heard but couldn't yet see the hundreds of ducks floating on our little bay.  And then, gloriously, the sun peeked through the little band of sky beneath the cloud cover.  Oh what a beautiful morning!

–  Claudia Lockhart, Northport Point, MI & Winnetka, IL

It was a warm, sunny, winter day and I was snowshoeing at Good Harbor.  Sunshine has been rare this winter and so has the snow but the "driftscape" at Good Harbor is always spectacular.  In this photograph it had not snowed for a week.  On that day I decided to explore the dunes because I like to see the dunes when it is sunny.  While moving across the ridges of the dunes, camera always in hand, I look for interesting things to photograph.  I saw this drift and the texture the wind created in the snow and I knew I had to take a picture.

–  Leif  Sporck, Suttons Bay, MI

I just can't drive by those beautiful red berries in winter. It doesn't matter how many times I see them, I have to stop and take a few photos! These gems are on Omena Point. I spotted them on the way to our winter picnic lunch. My husband and I stopped at Hansen Foods in Suttons Bay for our favorite fried chicken, drove out to Omena Bay and had lunch in the car. What a view! Leelanau is great anytime of year!

–  Trish Petrat, Brighton & Suttons Bay, MI

…and I definitely will return come spring. Those huge birches were amazing, as was this maple. With blue skies and warm temperatures, this was a perfect introduction to a very special place.

 –  Jocelyn Trepte, Traverse City, MI

Where else can you have a cool sunset shining through icicles like this but in Leelanau. 

–  Michael Collier, Birmingham, MI

Winter photos from the woods in Glen Arbor. We watch this sly fox daily from our window as he forages for a winter meal.

–  Betsy Wagner, Glen Arbor, MI

I love all the Why Leelanau? photos!!  I've planned to send photos, for…well, forever!… and now my friend and fellow photographer Cara Lee Paige, of Northport and Kalamazoo (who has seen all my Leelanau photos) says she'll hold her breath 'til I send some!…lol. I have thousands of photos of Leelanau.  Probably that's why I've never sent any yet, because I love each photo, of each place…and I LOVE Leelanau more than any place on Earth. Truly!  I've been absolutely LONGING for Leelanau all winter!…then a sunny Saturday dawned…several hours of driving later, I was gazing out upon this, my favorite view in the whole world and enjoying a winter afternoon beach walk…a big reason "WHY Leelanau", for me, for always. 

 Thanks for sharing the beauty of Leelanau through Why Leelanau? and for your work for the Conservancy!

–  Renna Noneman Yuill, Midland, MI

Near Ingalls Bay Rd.

–  Annette Deibel, Omena, MI