PHOTO BY SEAN COLLIER

If you’re like me, you have experienced a handful of exhausting weekend trips.

You plan such travel with the hopes of coming back refreshed and reinvigorated. Then the planning begins — tickets to this, reservations over there. Lists of curiosities to visit and stores to peruse. Plans to fully avail yourself of your destination’s amenities and landmarks.

You return having enjoyed a new place … but you’re thoroughly exhausted. You packed an awful lot into about 48 hours. You briefly consider calling off of work on Monday to recover from your vacation.

Last weekend, however, I managed to actually relax on a weekend trip — and it’s because the charming small town of Kane, in McKean County, is just so relaxing. Yes, there are things to do, destinations to be found and good meals to be enjoyed. Between those stops, though, I actually took time to unwind — I napped, I strolled, I sat around and read.

Doing so was easy, especially since I was staying at the landmark Kane Manor Inn. Built in 1896 for Elizabeth Dennistoun Wood Kane — an activist and author, as well as the widow of the Civil War General and abolitionist for whom the town is named — it’s a breathtaking building, lovely restored and converted into an inviting bed and breakfast. The cozy rooms will make you want to linger; the multiple public areas, including a beautiful parlor and several outdoor seating areas, will convince you to cancel plans and spend the night in.

You can order drinks and charcuterie plates from the Inn’s small bar and, in good weather, enjoy them on the outdoor patio overlooking the forest beyond; on some nights, live music will accompany your sipping and snacking. (If happy hour is good, breakfast is sublime; far from the expected bagels and fruit, the Kane Manor Inn offers full, homemade meals. If they ask about your breakfast preferences, put in a vote for the French toast.)

On my trip, we spent one night staying in and one night out, heading down the road to the Kane Family Drive-In, a single-screen, outdoor theater that has been in business since 1952. For just $7 per person — or $3 for seniors and children — you’ll get a double-feature of current hits under far more stars than can be seen from most parts of Allegheny County. Arrive early and drop another $3 on the 9-hole mini-golf course at the far end of the lot, or fill up on fair-style food at the full-service concession stand, where the smell of the signature funnel-cake fries will lure you from your parking space. In addition to the expected popcorn and nachos, they make burgers, hot dogs, loaded french fries and more to order.

During the day, if you’re inclined to roam, you can explore Allegheny National Forest via several nearby trailheads. We opted to seek out Hector Falls, a striking natural waterfall nearby; there’s a parking area about a 20-minute walk from the spot, with an easy and clearly marked trail.

You could also visit the Kane Historic Depot and Museum, a converted train station that tells the story of the city and its most notable residents. You could browse the shops on and around Fraley Street; you could dine at Table 105 or the 110-year-old Texas Hot Lunch diner.

Strike that — you should absolutely not miss Texas Hot Lunch. The signature hot dog is unforgettable, and it costs $2.65. (Order three.)

You could do any of that. Or you could do none of that. You could sit around the Inn, catch up on your reading and nod off in front of the television. Because not all travel has to involve a dash from one thing to the next. Yes, we want to get the most out of our journeys, but we also need a chance to make our getaways sources of actual relief.

For that, Kane is perfect.