Overview
Saline is a city of 9,300 people (as of 2019) in Washtenaw County, Southeast Michigan. In 1996, Money magazine named it one of the most attractive small cities in America.
4 sights · 4 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Saline
Rentschler Farm
Open 11AM-3PM on Saturdays, and by appointment, between mid-May to mid-October. A frame house and 11 outbuildings from 1901, used as a working farm until 1998. Tours of the farmhouse and outbuildings, live animals on the…
Bixby Marionette Exhibit
Collection of handcrafted marionettes from longtime Saline resident Meredith Bixby, who traveled throughout the Midwest and South putting on over 20,000 performances for over 40 years.
Saline Depot Museum
Open 11AM-3PM on Saturdays, and by appointment. Original 1870 railroad depot, converted into a museum in 1995.
Weber-Blaess School
One-room schoolhouse built in 1867 in Lodi Township. It was moved to Saline in 2002, renovated, and opened in 2004 for meetings and elementary school outings.
Main Street, Saline
Free music on Summer Thursdays, 7-9PM on Main Street and Rt 12.
Spring Time
Rentschler Farm Museum. Held the first Saturday in May that the farm museum opens to the public, from 11AM to 4PM. Guided tours, petting farm, antique phonograph exhibit, basket weaving, beekeeping, spinning and weaving,…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Ann Arbor)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit — 22 mi away (major hub). Directions
- TOL Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport, Toledo — 40 mi away. Directions
Saline is just southwest of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on MI-12 (Michigan Avenue).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bixby Marionette Exhibit, Weber-Blaess School, Rentschler Farm
- Lunch Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack
- Afternoon Main Street, Saline, Saline Celtic Festival
- Dinner Brecon Grille
- Evening Dan's Downtown Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Saline Depot Museum, Spring Time
- Afternoon Spring Fest
- Evening Bridgewater Bank Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Saline is just southwest of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on MI-12 (Michigan Avenue).
See
Do
- Take two self-guided walking tours of historic Saline. Leaflets are available at the Saline City Hall, 100 N Harris Street, +1 734 429-4907.
Events
Do Spring Time
Rentschler Farm Museum. Held the first Saturday in May that the farm museum opens to the public, from 11AM to 4PM. Guided tours, petting farm, antique phonograph exhibit, basket weaving, beekeeping, spinning and weaving, gardening, blacksmithing, tractor restoration, barn repairs and children's activities. $1 admission for adults; children free.
Do Saline Celtic Festival
Mill Pond Park. Held the second Saturday in July. Established in 1996, inspired by Saline's sister-city partnership with Brecon, Wales. Features Highland athletics (stone, hammer and caber throws), bagpipe and drum bands, music and dance performances, living history enactments, Highland cattle and sheepdog demonstrations, merchant booths, food vendors (including Welsh cakes, Irish shortbread and Michigan pasties) and children's activities. The week of the Celtic Festival is marked by golf tournaments, rugby matches, and music and dance workshops. Shuttle buses are available to the fair, with park-and-ride lots around Saline. Admission $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Do Spring Fest
Saline Recreation Center. Held the first Saturday in April. Egg scavenger hunt, lunch with the Easter Bunny, and an egg dive in the swimming pools.
Eat
Eat Brecon Grille
Bar and grille featuring soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and Celtic fare. Broad selection of wines, beers and ales. Fried pickles were excellent.
Eat Mac's Acadian Seafood Shack
Emphasis on seafood (including alligator, crawfish and catfish) and Cajun cuisine, with appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, Cajun specialties, beef, chicken and pasta. $8.50-30.
Drink
Drink Bridgewater Bank Tavern
Pub food and sandwiches.
Drink Dan's Downtown Tavern
Over 90 varieties of beer, and daily specials. Live music, darts, video games, and Friday-night karaoke.
Go next
- Ann Arbor is about 10 minutes north on Ann Arbor Rd.
- The other towns and villages of Washtenaw County are a short drive away.
- Detroit is about 45 minutes east on I-94.
Nearby
Milan
City / town · 4 listings · 8 mi away
Ann Arbor
City / town · 214 listings · 8 mi away
Ypsilanti
City / town · 62 listings · 10 mi away
Dexter
City / town · 24 listings · 13 mi away
Tecumseh
City / town · 4 listings · 14 mi away
Belleville
City / town · 3 listings · 15 mi away
Dundee
City / town · 7 listings · 16 mi away
Chelsea
City / town · 16 listings · 16 mi away
My experience
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