Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A cool ocean breeze and warm sand between your toes might seem appealing during the hottest days of summer in southern Michigan, when temperatures hover around 90 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. While the nearest ocean is more than 600 miles away, a selection of sandy beaches are only an hour's drive or less from downtown Saline.
It’s not the same as the ocean but the vast shorelines of Lake Erie are impressive. The 1300-acre park, a 45-minute drive from Saline, includes a mile of beach frontage with picnic tables, grills, vending machines and restrooms. Hike 7 miles of trail, let the kids burn off energy on the playground or spend the night in the campground, which has lakefront sites, electrical hookups and flush restrooms.
Van Buren Park, 17 miles due east of Saline, was originally constructed as a private lakeside campground for Detroit Edison employees. Van Buren Township now owns the park's 130 acres along Belleview Lake. You may bring a dog if he's on a 6-foot or shorter leash and you pick up his droppings. The beach is open year-round from 8 a.m. until dusk, but no lifeguards are on duty. The park has volleyball and basketball courts and hosts summer concerts.
Pinckney State Recreation Area, 20 miles northwest of Saline, has three beaches. The 11,000-acre recreation area is home to many lakes surrounded by hiking trails and backcountry campsites. Halfmoon Lake lies in the heart of the park, with the public swimming beach along the northeast shore of the 236-acre lake. Silver Lake has a concession store, trailheads, and a busy beach. At Bruin Lake, the beach is open only to campers staying at the 215-site campground, which includes electricity, hot showers, flush toilets and its own boat ramp.
Tucked in the trees near Petersburg, 20 miles south of Saline, Pirolli Park features a small man-made swimming lake flanked by a sandy beach for use by its campground guests. The beaches snuggle near grassy lawns, volleyball courts, horseshoes and basketball courts. Trails for hiking or driving a golf cart wind throughout. Camp at a site with a picnic table, electricity and water and enjoy modern conveniences like flush toilets and hot showers.