July is the most popular month for summer vacations.
Independence Day has the highest travel volume of the month, where millions of friends and family gather for fireworks.
July 4 Trip to Massanutten Resort
A few residents at Gabriel Homes – Joe, Sean, Gabe, and Sam (left to right) – spent the holiday weekend at Massanutten Resort with residential counselors Karen Adams and Kendra Jones. Karen planned the trip for the residents with one goal is mind: make it unforgettable. The getaway started before July 4 at a cozy house that was minutes away from all the action at the resort.
The Day of the Action
On the holiday itself, the group spent the bulk of the day at Massanutten Water Park. The park had endless outdoor and indoor attractions, including waterslides, pool basketball, and beach chair setups. Sean zoomed through the Valley Vortex, the tallest waterslide at the park, before spending most of the day relaxing in the hot tub. Gabe took a tube and kicked up his feet on the lazy river.
Joe spent the day at the wave pool, which reminded him of being on the beach with family. Sam joined Joe at the edge of the waves, with a brief stint tackling nearby water obstacle courses.
Time to Unwind
After spending hours of fun in the sun, the residents were ready to relax. Kendra suggested the nearby steakhouse for dinner and the guys were immediately on board. Everyone ate different dinners: chicken for Sean, a burger for Sam, steak with baked potatoes for Joe, and steak and mashed potatoes for Gabe.
One More Surprise in Store
Karen and Kendra had one more surprise up their sleeves that evening. Sean’s birthday was the next day, so they surprised him by celebrating it early. The restaurant brought him a slice of ice cream cake, sang Happy Birthday, and took photos of him riding on the restaurant’s wooden horse.
Time to Unwind
After spending hours of fun in the sun, the residents were ready to relax. Kendra suggested the nearby steakhouse for dinner and the guys were immediately on board. Everyone ate different dinners: chicken for Sean, a burger for Sam, steak with baked potatoes for Joe, and steak and mashed potatoes for Gabe.
Everyone still had enough energy for fireworks that night. The local firehouse had a showcase, so the group stayed for about an hour. Residents started to nod off from exhaustion, so everyone returned to the cabin for a full night of sleep. The next morning, the residents packed their bags, headed home to Reston, and caught a few hours of extra sleep along the way.
“I see the residents like family, and I truly care for and love them. Gabriel Homes is more than a plate of food or a bed to sleep in. The staff empathizes with our residents and shows respect for their independence. Our residents deserve the same opportunities to travel and have fun with friends as anyone else.”