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Accessible Routes and Other Pedestrian Ways

Janis Kent, Architect, FAIA , CASp © July, 2015. Updated February 2021

Over the years people use various terminology referring to areas where pedestrian move – circulation path , accessible route , path of travel, and accessible means of egress . But the question is, are all of these terms inter-changeable or do they have some nuance of difference in their meaning? The answer is, they do overlap each other but there is indeed differences between each of the terms. It would be good to understand the differences since the ADA Standards has further requirements for each of these categories and limits some of what we can do within each.

Circulation Path

Circulation path is a general term. It can be common-use circulation path within an employee work area, which has several specific exceptions, or just a circulation path in general. Circulation paths are where pedestrians move from one place to another and does not necessarily mean they are accessible. Circulation paths thru vehicular ways and unpaved paths are required to either be designed to be accessible or have an accessible route nearby. Stairs are considered vertical circulation paths which obviously are not accessible although there are requirements such as tread/riser dimensions, nosing profiles, and handrails. If a vertical circulation path leads to an accessible area or element, there is to be an accessible route within the same general area whether lifts, elevators, or ramps. The accessible route can overlap the circulation path or be separate in the same area. Compliant protruding objects can project into a circulation path .

Circulation Path.   An exterior or interior way of passage provided for pedestrian travel, including but not limited to, walks, hallways, courtyards, elevators, platform lifts, ramps, stairways, and landings.

Common Use.  Interior or exterior circulation paths, rooms, spaces, or elements that are not for public use and are made available for the shared use of two or more people.

Accessible Route

Accessible Route is also a general term and basically describes a route taken by pedestrians that is accessible . With a few exceptions, the accessible route connects the accessible parking spaces, accessible passenger loading zones, to the public right of way and public transportation stops with the accessible building entrance, to accessible elements and spaces both on the site and within the building including each story and mezzanine. If spaces and elements are connected by a circulation path then for the most part they are also required to be connected by an accessible route. If spaces or elements are accessible they are to be on an accessible route. Accessible routes are to coincide or be in the same general area as circulation paths . Accessible routes are comprised of walking surfaces with a 5% maximum slope, doorways, ramps, excluding flared sides of curb ramps, elevators, and lifts. Revolving doors, gates, and turnstiles are not part of an accessible route. An accessible route is considered a volume of 80” minimum clear height. The minimum width is 36” per ADAS whereas in California it is 48” on the exterior, 44” on double-loaded and 36” on single-loaded interior routes. There are further width requirements for ‘U’-turns, doorways, and passing spaces. Protruding objects can not reduce the required minimum clear width of an accessible route.

Accessible.   A site, building, facility, or portion thereof that complies with this part .

Path of Travel

Path of Travel applies to alteration and existing buildings. It not only includes the area where pedestrians move, such as corridors, hallways, lobbies, sidewalks, ramps, parking access aisles, walkways, doorways and elevators, but by definition it also includes the restrooms, phones, and drinking fountains. Generally a path of travel connects an exterior approach to an entry to an altered area. The required width and height meet the same requirements as for accessible routes. The term path of travel is used when providing an approach to an altered area that is required to be upgraded using 20% of the adjusted construction costs for proportional spending .

A path of travel  includes a continuous, unobstructed way of pedestrian passage by means of which the altered area may be approached, entered, and exited, and which connects the altered area with an exterior approach (including sidewalks, streets, and parking areas), an entrance to the facility, and other parts of the facility.

An accessible path of travel may consist of walks and sidewalks, curb ramps and other interior or exterior pedestrian ramps; clear floor paths through lobbies, corridors, rooms, and other improved areas; parking access aisles; elevators and lifts; or a combination of these elements

For the purposes of this section, the term “ path of travel ” also includes the restrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area

Accessible Means of Egress

An accessible means of egress is a continuous way of egress travel from within a building that provides an accessible route to an area of refuge, a horizontal exit, and to the public way. This is defined in the 2000, 2001 Supplement, and the 2003 IBC per ADA and allows the use of exit stairways, platform lifts, and evacuation elevators along with horizontal exits or areas of refuge. Do note that proportional spending for path of travel does not apply to an accessible means of egress system unless that means of egress is also the approach to an altered area.

Accessible Means of Egress.   A continuous and unobstructed way of egress travel from any point in a building or facility that provides an accessible route to an area of refuge, a horizontal exit, or a public way.

So as you can see, the terminology is similar and does overlap, but has some important differences. Circulation path is general for a pedestrian way. It is not necessarily accessible but does need to have an accessible route in the same vicinity if it is not overlapping and if it leads to an accessible space or element. An accessible route has specific minimum requirements in order to be accessible including no projecting objects into its minimum required clear width. Path of Travel is the terminology for alterations. It includes the concept of an Accessible route but it has a broader definition including other elements as part of proportional spending for alterations. Accessible Means of Egress is about fire and life safety exiting and does not use the term accessible in the same manner as the preceding definitions. Do note that this is a summary. There are a number of further requirements and exceptions for each term. And, with the exception of the term Accessible Means of Egress , the requirements above do not take into account occupant loads and their affect on the widths of pedestrian ways.

Thanks to L. Smith and M. O’Brien for the topic request. If you have a topic you’d like to request, please  email me .

Nothing in this article constitutes legal or design advice for a particular project or circumstance. Be aware that your local City or County may have additional requirements that are different or more restrictive than the State or Federal requirements. Also, this article is an interpretation and opinion of the writer which may vary for a particular project or due to other circumstances. It is meant as a general summary – current original regulations should always be reviewed when making any decisions and specific advice by a qualified professional should be secured for a particular project or circumstance.

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Decoded: Egress Terminology

This post was published in Doors & Hardware

In a previous column I explained how to calculate the required egress width based on the occupant load, and how to determine the number of occupants that a door opening will accommodate. The formulas used to calculate these values are consistent between the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code, although the egress capacity factors vary slightly. So if you know the occupant load and the number of occupants accommodated by each door, it’s simple math to decide whether you have enough egress doors, right? Well…no.

As I mentioned in my previous column, there are other factors that affect the quantity and location of egress doors, beyond the general requirements for 2, 3, or 4 exits depending on the occupant load. For example, doors used for egress need to be located remotely from each other, and there are limitations on the distance a building occupant must travel to reach an exit. In order to understand these requirements, there is terminology that you should be familiar with.

• Exit Access – This segment of the means of egress is between the occupied portion of the building and the exit. If you imagine a typical school, the corridor that leads from the classrooms to a stair enclosure would be an exit access corridor. The path that you would travel through the classroom to reach the corridor would also be part of the exit access. Exit passageways are sometimes confused with exit access corridors, but an exit passageway is separated from the rest of the building by fire-resistance-rated construction and is part of the exit, not part of the exit access. Exit passageways often extend from the end of the exit stair to the exterior when the stair doesn’t discharge directly to the exterior.
• Exit – We often use the word “exit” as it is defined by the general definition – “a way out.” But in code terminology, an exit is the portion of the means of egress between the exit access and the exit discharge or public way. Some components that may be an exit are stairways and ramps, horizontal exits (often a double-egress pair of fire doors), exit passageways, and exterior exit doors at the level of exit discharge. In the school example, the enclosed stairway would be an exit.
• Exit Discharge – The portion of a means of egress between the end of the exit and the public way is the exit discharge, which typically begins when building occupants reach the exterior of the building, at or near grade level. If you reached the exterior door at grade level in the school example, the exit discharge might include a sidewalk leading from the exterior door to the street (the public way).

The exit access corridor is the portion of the means of egress that leads from the occupied portion of the building to the exit.

The exit provides a protected path of travel between the exit access and the exit discharge.

The exit discharge extends from the termination of the exit to the public way.

Other Terminology

When determining the quantity and location of egress doors, you will often find limitations that are imposed on the route.

• Travel Distance – The travel distance to an exit is measured on the floor along the natural path of travel, beginning at the most remote point, curving around corners or obstructions with a 12-inch clearance from the object, and ending at the beginning of the exit. The travel distance from a school classroom would be measured by starting in the most remote corner of the room, following the natural path to the door, traveling down the corridor, and ending at the stair door (the beginning of the exit). The IBC limits this distance in an educational occupancy to 200 feet for unsprinklered buildings, and 250 feet for sprinklered buildings. NFPA 101 allows a maximum of 150 feet for unsprinklered educational occupancies, and 200 feet for sprinklered educational occupancies.
• Common Path of Egress Travel – This is the distance that a building occupant must travel before two separate egress paths to two exits are available. In a classroom with one egress door, the common path of egress travel would be the path from the most remote location within the classroom out into the corridor where two paths become available – down the corridor to the left, or to the right. The common path of egress travel ends where that choice becomes available. In an educational occupancy, the IBC limits the length of the common path of egress travel to 75 feet. The maximum allowed by NFPA 101 for educational occupancies is 75 feet for unsprinklered buildings, and 100 feet for sprinklered buildings.
• Dead End Corridors – Where more than one exit or exit access doorway is required, the length of dead-end corridors (corridors with no outlet) are limited by the IBC and NFPA 101. In educational occupancies, the limit on the length of dead end corridors is 20 feet for unsprinklered buildings and 50 feet for sprinklered. In the IBC, the length of dead end corridors is not limited when the length of the dead end corridor is less than 2.5 times the width.

Another issue to consider when evaluating egress is the remoteness of exits. When two exits are required, they must be remote from each other, since two exits located in the same vicinity could become blocked during an emergency. To determine the minimum distance between exits, take the longest diagonal measurement of the area served by the exits. The distance between the exits must be at least one-half of the diagonal measurement for unsprinklered buildings, and at least one-third of the diagonal measurement for sprinklered buildings.

This article is not intended to be an in-depth study of each of these concepts, rather, an introduction to some of the egress-related terms that may affect the door openings serving an egress route. For additional information, refer to the code or standard that has been adopted in your jurisdiction. The allowable lengths shown in this article for travel distance, common path of egress travel, and dead end corridors are based on the 2021 editions of the IBC and NFPA 101. Values required by other editions may vary.

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About the author: lori greene, related posts, recent posts.

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Lori, Well-written article. I have just one suggestion: In figuring Exit Access Travel Distance, we use the length and width of the room (less the 12 inch clearance at the walls) rather than the diagonal distance. It might seem that the natural path to the egress door would be the diagonal, being the most direct, but often there is furniture in the way. In your example of the school, the student at the desk in the corner of the classroom may have rows of desks in his way. Whether he goes up to the front of the room, and then across to the door, or up one desk and over one, then up one more and over one more, etc., it adds up the same: length plus width. I believe this is explained in the IBC Code Commentary.

There is a fantastic resource that I think is under-advertized to help designers tackle these kind of confusing issues. It’s called the Interactive Guide to the 2012 IBC, which sells for about $50.

No I don’t work for the ICC, but I am lucky enough to have a copy and the infographics are amazingly helpful for just this sort of thing. Check it out:

http://shop.iccsafe.org/interactive-guide-to-the-2012-ibcr-pdf-download.html

Lori Article is well written and informative.

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Accessible Routes Under the ADA: A Starter Guide

The Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) defines an accessible route as "a continuous unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces of a building or facility." The ADA guidelines cover such details as elevators, ramps, floors, and corridors as well as exterior design elements like crosswalks and curbs.

Altogether, there are 10 factors to consider when creating an accessible route: location, width, passing space, headroom, surface textures, slope, changes in levels, doors, egress, and areas of rescue assistance. Here is a summary guide to each.

• Location : There must be at least one accessible route linking areas on a site to one another and to transportation, parking and public areas such as streets or sidewalks. This includes connecting buildings. There must also be accessible routes to each "dwelling" within a space. For example, it’s not enough for just the exterior facilities of an apartment building to be accessible; the guidelines apply to individual residences as well. It worth noting that the guidelines require that "to the maximum extent feasible, [accessible routes] coincide with the route for the general public." In other words, people with disabilities should not be relegated to a separate route where integration is possible.
• Width : The ADAAG specifies that accessible routes must be at least 36 inches wide. The one exception is doors, where the requirement is 32 inches for a door that requires entry and 20 inches for a space where users aren’t expected to move completely through the frame, such as a closet. For spaces in which the turning of a wheelchair is required, the guidelines include diagrams to better assist developers.
• Passing Space : For routes narrower than 60 inches, passing spaces must be provided at least every 200 feet. While the guidelines list a T junction of two corridors as an acceptable option, each passing space must be 60 inches by 60 inches.
• Headroom : There must be 80 inches of headroom in "circulation spaces" such as corridors and hallways. Where 80 inches is not possible, a barrier warning must be provided.
• Surface Textures : The guidelines mandate that all floor surfaces be "s table, firm, [and] slip-resistant." They also specify details about grate placement and carpet requirements, most of which relate to how the carpet is attached to prevent safety issues.
• Slope : This area of the guidelines separates what constitutes a ramp and also the maximum allowable cross slope (the side-to-side slope that enables drainage) of 1:50, or two percent.
• Changes in levels : The ADAAG requires than any change of level over 13 millimeters be accompanied by a curb ramp or elevator. A route cannot be deemed as accessible if it involves stairs, steps, or escalators.
• Doors: The guidelines covering various types of doors are extensive, accounting for clearances, thresholds, latches, power-assisted doors, and more. The force needed for opening a door is also defined, with the maximum set at five lbf (pound-force) for interior hinged doors and sliding or folding doors. Visit ADAAG 4.13 Doors for more information.
• Egress : Defined by the guidelines as “A continuous and unobstructed way of exit travel from any point in a building or facility to a public way,” all accessible routes must meet this requirement.
• Areas of Rescue Assistance : This last section identifies the requirements for emergency assistance areas, which must include at least two accessible areas that are at least 30 inches by 48 inches, along with other critical size, safety, communication, and identification guidelines. Visit ADAAG 4.3.11 Areas of Rescue Assistance for more information.

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PATH OF TRAVEL.

[DSA-AC] An identifiable accessible route within an existing site , building or facility by means of which a particular area may be approached, entered and exited, and which connects a particular area with an exterior approach (including sidewalks , streets, and parking areas), an entrance to the facility , and other parts of the facility . When alterations , structural repairs or additions are made to existing buildings or facilities , the term “ path of travel ” also includes the toilet and bathing facilities , telephones, drinking fountains and signs serving the area of work.

[ ADA Title II §35.151(b)(4)(ii) ] A “path of travel” includes a continuous, unobstructed way of pedestrian passage by means of which the altered area may be approached, entered, and exited, and which connects the altered area with an exterior approach (including sidewalks, streets, and parking areas), an entrance to the facility, and other parts of the facility.

(A) An accessible path of travel may consist of walks and sidewalks, curb ramps and other interior or exterior pedestrian ramps; clear floor paths through lobbies, corridors, rooms, and other improved areas; parking access aisles; elevators and lifts; or a combination of these elements.

(B) For the purposes of this section, the term “path of travel” also includes the restrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area.

[ ADA Title III §36.403(e) ] Path of travel.

1) A "path of travel" includes a continuous, unobstructed way of pedestrian passage by means of which the altered area may be approached, entered, and exited, and which connects the altered area with an exterior approach (including sidewalks, streets, and parking areas), an entrance to the facility, and other parts of the facility.

2) An accessible path of travel may consist of walks and sidewalks, curb ramps and other interior or exterior pedestrian ramps; clear floor paths through lobbies, corridors, rooms, and other improved areas; parking access aisles; elevators and lifts; or a combination of these elements.

3) For the purposes of this part, the term "path of travel" also includes the restrooms, telephones, and drinking fountains serving the altered area.

ETA Editor's Note

CBC Chapter 11B does not apply the same qualification as ADA for imposing the responsibility to make the path of travel to an addition or alteration accessible, implying that existing barriers to accessibility must be mitigated, subject to codified hardship and/or safe harbor limitations. ADA imposes the responsibility when an alteration or addition to a public accommodation or commercial facility includes or affects an area containing a primary function. Lacking this qualification, the CBC Chapter 11B scoping is more inclusive. However, the CBC scoping is interpreted and enforced by Local Building Officials and other Authorities Having Jurisdiction, whereas the ADA scoping is not. Therefore, in cases where the CBC scoping for mitigation of existing path of travel barriers as part of a building alteration or addition is not enforced, or is enforced to a lesser degree than the ADA obligation would require, the ADA obligation remains in effect , if the alteration or addition meets the ADA primary function qualification.

It is also important to note that ADA Title III imposes a perpetual obligation for public accommodations to mitigate existing barriers to the extent readily achievable, not merely limited to those on an accessible path of travel, and not tied to other alterations or additions.

In order to mitigate existing barriers, it is first necessary to identify them. The subject of who is responsible for doing this is not addressed directly by CBC or ADA, and it is perhaps the most common failing for public accommodations. Design professionals frequently note " Existing Accessible Parking ," " Existing Accessible Toilets ," and similar, which Authorities Having Jurisdiction take to imply that they are compliant.  The failure to mitigate existing barriers that are overlooked by this practice can be, and frequently is, an ADA violation. It is also inconsistent with the intent of CBC Chapter 11B .

The ADA path of travel requirements are included in this Guide following those of CBC Section 11B-202.4 .

Source: 2019 California Standards for Accessible Design Guide (effective January 1, 2020 with July 1, 2021 amendments) by DSA Advisory Manual - published 07/01/2019

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Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken: Meaning and Analysis

General Education

Robert Frost is arguably one of the most well-known American poets of all time, so it’s not surprising that his work is taught in high schools and colleges across the nation. Because he’s so famous, chances are you’ve encountered “The Road Not Taken” before .

We’re here to help you build a deeper understanding of “The Road Not Taken.” To help you learn what Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” poem is all about, we’ll cover the following in this article:

• A brief intro to the poet, Robert Frost
• Information about the poem’s background
• “The Road Not Taken” meaning
• “The Road Not Taken” analysis, including the top two themes in the poem
• The poetic devices in “The Road Not Taken” that you need to know

There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get going!

Robert Frost is widely recognized as one of the most influential American poets of the 20th century. (Sneha Raushan/ Wikimedia )

Robert Frost Biography

Robert Frost was born in 1874 in San Francisco, California. His father was a newspaper editor (a profession Frost later practiced himself, among others), and his mother was a teacher and Scottish immigrant. When he was about ten years old, his family moved to Massachusetts to be near his grandfather, who owned a sawmill. Frost was named both the valedictorian and the “class poet” of his high school graduating class ...and two years later published his first poem, “My Butterfly: An Elegy,” in the New York Independent magazine. 

At this point, Frost knew he wanted to be a poet. But unfortunately, the next segment of Frost’s life would be marked by upheaval . He attended both Dartmouth and Harvard, but dropped out of both before graduating. His poetry wasn’t gaining traction in the United States, either. To complicate matters further, Frost and his wife, Elinor, suffered personal tragedy when two of their six children died in infancy. 

In 1900, feeling frustrated by his job prospects and a lack of traction in his poetry career, Frost moved his family to a farm left to him by his grandfather in Derry, New Hampshire. Frost would live there for nine years, and many of his most famous early poems were written before his morning chores while tending to the farm . But Frost’s poetry was still largely overlooked by American publishers. Consequently, Frost decided to sell the farm in 1911 and moved his family to London. It was there he published his first anthology of poetry, A Boy’s Will, in 1913 . 

Frost’s second anthology, North of Boston, was published in 1914 and found massive success in England. Finally, after years of struggle, Frost became a famous poet essentially overnight. In order to avoid WWI, Frost returned to the U.S. in 1915 and began teaching at Amherst College and the University of Michigan , all the while continuing to write poetry. He received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, and became the public face of 20th century American poetry . Late in life, at 86 years old, Robert Frost also became the first inaugural poet at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1960. 

Throughout his career, Frost never strayed far from old-fashioned, pastoral poetry, despite the fact that newer American poets moved in a more experimental direction. Frost’s poetry continued to focus on rural New England life up until his death in 1963. 

Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” Poem

“The Road Not Taken” is a narrative poem , meaning it is a poem that tells a story. It was written in 1915 as a joke for Frost’s friend, Edward Thomas. Frost and Thomas were fond of hiking together, and Thomas often had trouble making up his mind which trail they should follow. (Yes, that’s right: one of the most famous American poems was originally written as a goofy private joke between two friends!)

Frost first read it to some college students who, to his surprise, thought it a very serious poem. “The Road Not Taken” was first published in the August 1915 issue of The Atlantic Monthly , and then was re-published as the opening poem in his poetry collection Mountain Interval the next year.

The full text of the poem is below.

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Frost's most famous poem got its start as part of a letter sent to his best friend on the eve of World War I.

The Background Behind “The Road Not Taken” Poem

“The Road Not Taken” has become well known for its perceived encouragement to take the “[road] less traveled by.” In other words, many people interpret this poem as a call to blaze new trails and break away from the status quo. This is partly why lots of people misremember the poem’s title as “The Road Less Travelled.” 

This interpretation of “The Road Not Taken” is debatable (more on that later), but it was enough to inspire Frost’s friend Edward Thomas to make a very grave decision to fight in World War I.

Frost and Thomas were great friends while Frost lived in England, both of them were well-read and very interested in nature. They frequently took long walks together , observing nature in the English countryside. However, Frost’s time in England ended in 1915 when World War I was on the verge of breaking out. He returned to the United States to avoid the war and fully expected Thomas to follow him. 

Thomas did not. Frost’s poem came in the mail as Thomas was deciding whether to leave Europe or to participate in the war effort. While “The Road Not Taken” wasn’t the only thing that made Thomas enlist and fight in World War I, it was a factor in his decision. Thomas, regretting his lack of achievement compared to his good friend Frost and feeling that the poem mocked his indecisiveness, decided to take initiative and fight for his country. Unfortunately, Thomas was killed at the Battle of Arras on April 9, 1917.

Thomas was inspired to take “the road not taken” because of Frost’s poem. The same is true for many people who’ve read the poem since it was first published in 1915. The concept of taking a “road less traveled'' seems to advocate for individuality and perseverance , both of which are considered central to American culture. The poem has been republished thousands upon thousands of times and has inspired everything from self-help books to car commercials .

Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” Analysis: Meaning and Themes

To help you understand the significance of Robert Frost’s poetry, we’ll break down the overall meaning and major themes of the poem in our “The Road Not Taken” analysis below. 

But before we do, go back and reread the poem. Once you have that done, come back here...and we can get started! 

Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” Meaning

“The Road Not Taken” is a poem that argues for the importance of our choices, both big and small, since they shape our journey through life . For Frost, the most important decisions we make aren’t the ones we spend tons of time thinking about, like who we have relationships with , where we go to college , or what our future career should be . Instead, Frost’s poem posits that the small choices we make each and every day also have big impacts on our lives. Each decision we make sets us upon a path that we may not understand the importance of until much, much later. 

This theme is reflected throughout the poem. For instance, the poem begins with a speaker placing us in a scene, specifically at the point where two roads break away from each other in the middle of a “yellow wood.”

The speaker is sorry they cannot go both directions and still “be one traveler,” which is to say that they cannot live two divergent lives and still be one single person . In other words, the speaker can’t “have their cake and eat it, too.” The speaker has to choose one direction to go down, because like in life, making a decision often means that other doors are subsequently shut for you. 

For example, if you choose to go to college at UCLA, that means you’re also choosing not to go to college elsewhere. You’ll never know what it would be like to go to the University of Michigan or as a freshman straight out of high school because you made a different choice. But this is true for smaller, day-to-day decisions as well. Choosing who you spend time with, how hard you study, and what hobbies your pursue are examples of smaller choices that also shape your future, too.

The speaker of the poem understands that . They stand at the crossroads of these two paths for a long time, contemplating their choice. First, they stare down one path as far as he or she can, to where it trails off into the undergrowth. The speaker then decides to take the other path, which they state is just as “fair,” meaning just as attractive as the first. The narrator states that the second path “wanted wear,” meaning that it was slightly more overgrown than the first path.

But more importantly, no matter which path the speaker takes, they know they’re committed to follow it wherever it may lead. We see that in this stanza:

While the speaker says they “saved the first” path for “another day” to make them feel better about their decision, the next two lines show that the speaker realizes they probably won’t be able to double back and take the first path, no matter where the second one leads. Just like in life, each path leads to another path, and then another. In other words, the decisions we make in the moment add up and influence where we end up in life--and we don’t really get a “redo” on. 

After choosing their path, the speaker says they look forward to a day far in the future when, “with a sigh,” they’ll tell people about taking the road “less traveled by,/And that has made all the difference.” 

Does this mean that taking the one less traveled has “made all the difference” in a good way?

Saying so “with a sigh” doesn’t necessarily sound like a good thing. The poem isn’t at all clear on whether or not taking the less traveled path was a good choice or a bad choice . So while the poem is clear that all of our choices shape the path we take in life, it’s more ambiguous about whether choosing “less traveled” paths is a good thing or not. That’s up to readers to decide! 

Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” Theme 1: The Power of Hindsight 

This brings us to our first theme: how hindsight gives our choices power.  

The speaker begins at a point of bifurcation (which is a fancy way of saying “break into two branches”). As readers, we’re meant to take the poem both as a literal story about someone in the woods trying to decide which way to go, as well as a metaphor about how our life choices are like divergent paths in the woods. 

Like we mentioned earlier, the poem is clear that you can’t take two paths and still “be one traveler,” nor can you be certain that you’ll ever get a chance to test out your other options. That’s because every choice you make leads to more choices, all of which lead you further and further from our starting point. 

However, the poem also suggests that while the choices we make are important, how we interpret these choices is what really makes us who we are. We see this in the last lines of the poem, which read: 

I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Essentially, the speaker is saying that later in life he will look back in time and see that moment as one of great significance. But we can only know which choices matter the most through the power of retrospection. It’s like the old saying goes: hindsight is 20/20! 

Here’s what frost means: when we’re making choices in life, they might seem inconsequential or like they’re not that big of a deal. But once time passes and we’ve journeyed down our path a little farther, we can look back into the past and see which choices have shaped us the most. And oftentimes, those choices aren’t the ones we think are most important in the moment. The clarity and wisdom of hindsight allows us to realize that doing something like taking the path “less traveled by” has impacted our lives immensely. 

"The Road Not Taken" is also about our perspective...and how hindsight helps us reconsider our past decision.  

Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” Theme 2: Perspective and Memory

The other major theme in “The Road Not Taken” is how our individual perspective. 

The speaker of the poem spends most of their time trying to decide which path to take. They describe each path in detail: the first one curves into the undergrowth, while the second was more tempting because it was “grassy” and a little less worn. 

But the truth is that these paths have more in common than not. They’re both in the woods, for one. But the speaker also says the first is “just as fair” as the other, meaning it’s just as pretty or attractive. They also mention that “And both that morning equally lay / In leaves no step had trodden black,” which is a poetic way of saying that neither path had been walked on in a while. And even the one the poet says is less traveled was actually “worn...about the same” as the first path! 

So it’s t he speaker’s perspective that makes these paths seem divergent rather than them actually being super different from one another! 

Because our perspectives shape the way we understand the world, it also affects our memories.  Our memories help us understand who we are, and they shape the person we become. But as we tell ourselves our own story, we overwrite our memories . It’s kind of like deleting a sentence and retyping it...only for it to change a little bit each time! 

What is your earliest memory? What is your favorite memory? Now think about this: are you remembering them, or are you remembering remembering them? Is there a difference? Yes, because science shows that every single time we recall a memory we change it . It’s very possible that your favorite early memory isn’t your memory at all--it is more likely a memory of being told something that happened to you. Perhaps you have a photograph of a moment that triggers your memory. The photograph may not change, but you do and your memory of the things that happened in that moment do.

So, if our experiences and our choices make us who we are, but we’re constantly misremembering and changing our memories, how do actual events even matter? 

“The Road Not Taken” says that they do. Our choices we make are impactful, but the way we remember them is what helps shape us as individuals. So “The Road Not Taken” isn’t necessarily an ode to bravely taking the less popular path when others wouldn’t. It’s more like an ode to being resigned to believing our choices made us who we are, even though if we hadn’t made them, hadn’t taken that path, we’d be someone else who made choices that were just as valid.

Poetic devices are the tools we can use to unpack the meaning of a poem. Here are two that are important to understanding "The Road Not Taken."

The Top 2 Poetic Devices in “The Road Not Taken”

Poetic devices are literary devices that poets use to enhance and create a poem’s structure, tone, rhythm, and meaning. In Robert Frost’s, “The Road Not Taken,” Frost uses iambic meter and voice to reinforce the poem’s meaning . 

Poetic Device 1: Iambic Meter

First thing’s first: the following is only a short overview of iambic meter. If you want an in-depth discussion of meter, check out our blog about it . 

So what is meter? The English language has about an equal number of stressed and unstressed syllables. Arranging these stressed syllables into consistent is one of the most common ways of giving a poem a structure... and this arrangement is called “meter.” 

A poem’s meter is made up of units. Each “unit” of stressed and unstressed syllables that repeats in a poem is called a foot. A foot can either be an iamb (one unstressed followed by one stressed syllable), a trochee (one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable), a dactyl (one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables) or an anapest (two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable). 

The iamb is the foot that comes to us most naturally as native English speakers, and the most iambs we can speak easily without having to inhale for another breath is about five. So the most common structure for English language poetry is iambic pentameter , meaning the most common foot is an iamb, and there are five iambs per line. Historically, the vast majority of poetry written in English has been in iambic pentameter, and it was the default format for English poetry for centuries.

But pentameter isn’t the only iambic meter : two feet make dimeter, three feet make trimeter, four feet make tetrameter, and six feet make hexameter, and so forth.

The Modernist poets started moving away from these traditional repeating patterns of meter just after World War I, using invented patterns called “free verse.” Although Modernist free verse didn’t replace metrical verse overnight or completely, it slowly broke down the central importance of it in ways that are still felt today. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is from the very tail end of the iambic-meter-as-a-necessity era. Frost stubbornly and famously stuck to the traditional metrical forms , comparing free verse to playing tennis “with the net down.”

It is the iambic meter that gives the poem its “old-fashioned” rhythm and comfortable feeling. It’s also the thing that makes the poem sound so natural when you read it out loud. You may not even immediately recognize that the poem is in iambic meter, but it becomes clear when you start breaking down the lines. Take this one, for example:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

Looking at the stressed and unstressed syllables we get:

two ROADS/di-VERGED/in a YELL/ow WOOD

The capitalized syllables are stressed, and the lowercase ones aren’t. Each pair of these is an iamb! 

There are four stressed syllables on this line , as well as every other line in the poem. That means this poem is in iambic tetrameter. The most common foot is an iamb (although notice that the third foot is an anapest), and there are four of them.

So why is this important? First, iambic tetrameter is a metrical pattern favored by the 19th century Romantics , who very frequently wrote poems that involved lonely people having great epiphanies while out in nature by themselves. By mimicking that style, Frost pulls on a long poetic tradition helps readers hone in on some of the major themes of his poem--specifically, that the speaker’s decision in the woods will have long-term consequences for both their character and their life. 

The iambic form also rolls off of the tongue easily because it’s the most common meter in the English language. That also echoes the importance of nature in “The Road Not Taken”: both in terms of the natural imagery in the poem, but also in its discussion of the nature of perspective and memory. In that way, the form of the poem helps to reinforce its themes! 

Poetic Device 2: Voice

The second poetic device that Frost employs is voice. The voice of a poem is the product of all the stylistic and vocabulary choices that add up to create a character . In this case, the poem has one character: the speaker. The speaker is unnamed, and it’s through their perspective that we experience the poem. It’s easy to think of the speaker as being Frost himself, but try to resist that temptation. The voice of a poem is an artificial construct, a character created to give the poem a certain effect.\

So how does Frost create this voice? First, note that the poem is in first person . That means we’re getting the speaker’s perspective in their own words, signaled by their use of first person pronouns like “I.” Additionally, the audience isn’t being addressed directly (like in Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise). Instead, it’s as if we’ve intruded upon the speaker’s thoughts as they ruminate over the potential ramifications of choosing one path over another.

Writing the poem in first person means that we’re getting the story straight from the horse’s mouth. In some ways, this is a good thing: it helps us understand the speaker’s unique perspective and in their own unique voice. But in other ways, it makes the objective details of the moment less clear. That’s because t he speaker’s recounting of the moment in the woods is colored by his own memory. That means we have to rely on the speaker’s interpretation of events...and decide how that impacts our interpretation of the poem! The first person narration also gives the poem much of its reflective nature.

What’s Next?

Analyzing poetry can be tricky, so it’s helpful to read a few expert analyses. We have a bunch on our blog that you can read through, like this one about Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night” or this article that explains 10 different sonnets!

It’s much easier to analyze poetry when you have the right tools to do it! Don’t miss our in-depth guides to poetic devices like assonance , iambic pentameter , and allusion .

If you’re more about writing poetry than analyzing it, we’ve got you covered! Here are five great tips for writing poetry (and a few scholarships for budding poets , too).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Definition of travel

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• peregrination

Examples of travel in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'travel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English travailen, travelen to torment, labor, strive, journey, from Anglo-French travailler

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing travel

• pre - travel
• see / travel the world
• travel agency
• travel agent
• travel light
• travel sickness
• travel trailer

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Dictionary Entries Near travel

Cite this entry.

“Travel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel. Accessed 3 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of travel.

Kids Definition of travel  (Entry 2 of 2)

Middle English travailen "torment, labor, strive, journey," from early French travailler "torment, labor," from an unrecorded Latin verb tripaliare "to torture," from Latin tripalium "an instrument of torture," literally "three stakes," derived from tri- "three" and palus "stake, pale" — related to pale entry 3 , travail

More from Merriam-Webster on travel

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Britannica English: Translation of travel for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about travel

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Hiked the Camino? Here are 7 pilgrimages to consider for your next challenge

Aug 23, 2024 • 0 min read

Pilgrimage routes like the St Olav Waterway from Finland to Sweden let seekers give thanks, pray or find inner peace and purpose. Sergi Reboredo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A sacred path to spiritual renewal. A journey from head to heart. A test of endurance. A life-changing road to enlightenment.

Since time immemorial, people have gone on pilgrimages to seek forgiveness, give thanks, pray or find inner peace and purpose in times of change and crisis. St Augustine nailed it 1500 years ago when he said: “ solvitur ambulando ” (“it is solved by walking”). After all, what could be more intuitive than putting one foot in front of another, following a clear path to a goal? A pilgrimage is a metaphor for life.

And across the world, pilgrimages are booming.

In 2023, a record-breaking 446,073 pilgrims walked the Camino de Santiago to the shrine of the Apostle St James. But this well-trodden path is merely the first among equals among the world’s great pilgrimage routes.

Religious or not, you will be profoundly touched by the natural beauty, history and unique insights into culture and spirituality on these seven epic pilgrimages – slow-travel adventures taking you from the mist-draped mountains of Japan to the island-speckled south coast of Finland.

1. St Olav Waterway, Sweden and Finland

Best for island hopping and sea views

To slip away from civilization and back to nature, the island-hopping, coast-hugging St Olav Waterway that links Turku in Finland with Eckerö (Åland) in Sweden is the dream. A rousing 10-day romp of 215km (134 miles), this is a pilgrimage trail like few others. For starters, you don’t have to walk it – you can cycle or kayak if you prefer, with ferries joining the gaps. 

Whatever your mode of transport, look forward to stupendous views of sea and sky. The trail skips over many rocky isles and skerries as it crosses the Åland Islands , where you have the space to zone out for a spell and be at one with the blues of the Baltic and greens of the pine forest in a place silent enough to hear your own heartbeat. Bring binoculars and you might well spot migratory birds, hares, deer and the odd elk swimming from island to island. 

Following the route pilgrims hiked and sailed in the Middle Ages and honoring one of the most famous Scandi saints, this route is less about showstopping highlights and more about embracing every element and sense along the way. Admire the brilliant stars as you wild camp. Take bracingly cold post-sauna dips in the sea. Stop off in tiny, timber-built villages and savor local produce for picnics at wayside farm shops.

After a week or so, you’ll discover lost rhythms and find a deeper connection with the Nordics and their wondrous nature.

2. Kumano Kodō, Japan

Best for holy shrines and hot springs

Threading into densely wooded mountains on Japan ’s Kii Peninsula , the Kumano Kodō is a UNESCO-listed network of pilgrimage trails leading to the Kumano Sanzan, or Three Grand Shrines of Kumano. Once a sacred pilgrimage trail for enlightenment-seeking emperors and samurai, these paths have been trodden for more than a millennium.

Today, the landscape they cut through continues to pulse with a special energy. Walkers can expect ethereally lit bamboo groves, fern-flecked forests and terraced rice paddies, waterfalls plunging over cliff faces and holy mountains revered as kami (gods), Buddhist temples and Shintō shrines.

The main path to Kumano is the Nakahechi Route (Imperial Route) – a well-mapped, 68km (42-mile) journey on foot to unite mind, body and spirit through the challenge of the trail and the beauty of nature. It’s a solid four days of walking up into ragged mountains, through mist-veiled forests and along old stone paths polished smooth by pilgrims’ weary-yet-determined feet. Tea houses and simple inns provide rest and refreshment in isolated villages; you’ll want to follow centuries-old ablutions rituals by bathing in the World Heritage hot springs of Yunomine Onsen . At the end, you’ll descend to the ancient shrine of Hongu Taisha , which has the world’s biggest torii gate. 

Summers on the Kii can be hot and humid and winters cold, so come in the shoulder seasons for mild days and few crowds – plus spring cherry blossoms or glorious autumn foliage.

3. Via Francigena, Italy

Best for heights and hill towns

In the saintly hall of fame, few shine brighter than St Francis of Assisi, born in his namesake  town in Umbria in 1181. Founder of the Franciscan order, this most venerated of Italian saints lived a life of utmost poverty and penance – we’re talking rolling around in thorn bushes to resist temptation, wearing a ragged habit (he only owned one), eating barely nothing and sleeping on stone. St Francis loved nature, saved animals and worked many a medieval miracle, from walking on water to healing the sick and raising the dead. As saints go, few can touch him. 

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the Via Francigena follows in his devout footsteps. If you thought the Camino was challenging, try this 1200km (745-mile) pilgrimage from  Canterbury ’s Gothic, UNESCO-listed cathedral (where Thomas Becket was killed in 1170) to Santa Maria di Leuca in Puglia at Italy ’s sun-scorched heel. As you tramp from England to France , Switzerland and Italy, the weather gradually warms and skies get bluer. The landscapes that unfold are cinematically beautiful: vineyards, fast-flowing rivers and forests, olive-cloaked hills and snow-frosted Alps. In between, abbeys, castles, medieval towns and all the wonders of  Rome await. On the lonely stretches, a sense of spirituality endures.

4. The Portuguese Way, Portugal

Best for an alternative route to Santiago

If the idea of Santiago appeals – yet throngs of pilgrims on the busy Camino Francés (French Way) don’t, there are other ways you can set out and earn your official Compostela certificate. While 219,785 blister-footed pilgrims trekked across the Pyrenees through France and Northern Spain to Santiago’s resplendent medieval cathedral in 2023, just 88,717 came via Portugal . Cue the popular-but-still-less-crowded Caminho Português (Portuguese Way), a spiritually uplifting, month-long, 620km (385-mile) stomp from the Portuguese capital of Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela .

Wild Atlantic coastlines, forested hills and national parks stitch together time-lost villages and some of Portugal’s most outstanding cultural sites – from alley-packed, moodily atmospheric  Coimbra , medieval capital for more than a century and home to the UNESCO-listed university that’s the country’s oldest; to convent-topped Tomar , a Knights Templar stronghold; and Moorish Santarém. Stop at beaches for boat-fresh shellfish and vibrant sunsets.

The trail is well-signposted and moderately challenging (expect inclines but no real climbs); the weather tends to be agreeable, too, with spring and autumn the ideal times to walk. Tip: if you want to shave off a bit of time, just hike the 265km (165 miles) from Porto . From here, it takes “only” 10 to 12 days to reach Santiago.

5. St Paul Trail, Türkiye

Best for history and slow travel

The apostle St Paul hailed from Tarsus and spread the Christian faith in Asia Minor in the first century. Honoring this foundational early saint and tracing his footsteps as he embarked on his first missionary journey to Anatolia, the St Paul Trail presents a deep dive into a rural side of  Türkiye  that few visitors get to see. You’ll need to be fit for the 500km (310-mile), at-times-tough hike from the ancient city of Perge (just north of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast) to Yalvaç near Lake Eğirdir. The path is well marked, with handy white-and-red stripes on rocks and trees. 

History lovers will be in their element here, as the route picks its way along stone-paved Roman roads, medieval paths and old shepherd trails, taking in aqueducts and ancient theaters; Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman towns and cities; and ruined temples, castles, mosques and churches. But the wild beauty of the Taurus Mountains also touches deep: pine, beech and juniper forests, high pastures, canyons and valleys, glass-clear streams and turquoise falls. In between are hamlets where the pace of life is refreshingly slow, where cheese and yogurt are still made the traditional way, and in which you can momentarily forget which century we live in. 

Avoid the blistering heat of summer and opt instead for spring or autumn. April, May, September and October are fine times to hike this month-long trail, along which you’ll be staying in private homes, at simple B&Bs or under canvas.

6. Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka

Best sacred mountain sunrise

Soaring high above the lush green tea plantations and forests of Sri Lanka ’s cloud-wreathed Central Highlands, cone-shaped, 2243m(7360ft)-high Adam’s Peak (Śrī Pāda) is the country’s most sacred mountain. Scrambling up 5200 steps to the top is a rite of passage for pilgrims of different faiths, who flock here from the world over to pray and express gratitude.

The name refers to the giant footprint-shaped marking at the summit, which some say is where Adam first set foot on earth when he was cast out of the Garden of Eden. Buddhists believe it was left by Buddha en route to paradise, while Hindus insist it is Shiva’s doing. No matter the religion, this holiest of peaks is the end goal of a long, sweaty, back-breaking climb from the village of Dalhousie (allow around 8 hours for the up-and-back trek).

Religious or not, climbing Adam’s Peak is a spiritual experience – and proof that you don’t need to hike for days or weeks to experience the transformative power of pilgrimage. Begin at night as the stars twinkle, joining fellow pilgrims with head-torches flickering like fireflies to climb the steps. You’ll then arrive at the summit as day breaks and sunrise touches the island like a golden blessing. The pilgrimage season begins on poya (full moon) day in December and runs until the Vesak festival in May.

7. Wexford Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way, Ireland and Wales

Best for wild waves and Celtic spirit

Just imagine for a second how St Aidan must have felt back in the sixth century as he trod, staff in hand, along the wave-whipped shores of the Atlantic from Ferns in Ireland to St Davids in Wales to meet his mentor St David.

Now drop yourself right in the moment.

The recently launched Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way is a tale of two saints and two Celtic lands. Heading up and over gorse-clad cliff and along dune-flanked beach for 260km (162 miles) and crossing the Irish Sea by ferry, this pilgrimage trail enthralls with cultural heritage in the form of ruined abbeys, romantic castles, Celtic wells, Marian shrines and the clincher: magnificent St David’s Cathedral , which hosts the relics of Wales’ beloved patron saint. 

Believer or not, nature is sure to grab you. In what the Celts would have described as a “liminal space” – where the gap between heaven and earth is small – these coastal landscapes touch the soul. Feel the spiritual connection with the living world standing atop wild, storm-smashed, lighthouse-topped Strumble Head, where seabirds (fulmars, razorbills, guillemots, peregrines) dive and screech while dolphins and seals splash offshore.

Broken up into nine bite-sized day walks of roughly 14 miles (22km) apiece and digitally way-marked, the trail is easy enough to hike and navigate, with overnight accommodation offered at sanctuaries, farms and hostels.

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Unpacking Your Wanderlust: What Dreaming About Travel Really Means

W ho hasn't woken up from a dream about travel and thought, "Wow, what was that all about?" Dreaming about exploring far-off places, flying without wings, or even missing a crucial flight can leave you perplexed, intrigued, and sometimes itching to understand more. In this comprehensive article, let's decode the fascinating topic of travel dreams and what they could mean for you.

A Dive into Dreams

Dreams are like the nightly theatre of our subconscious. Scientists and psychologists have spent years studying why we dream, and the consensus seems to be that dreams serve as a blend of emotional regulation and cognitive processing. Now, when it comes to dreams featuring travel, that's where things get really interesting. These aren't just random scenarios; they often carry significant, symbolic meanings that could illuminate insights about your personality, emotional state, and aspirations.

Travel in Dreams vs. Reality

Here's the thing: Dreaming about travel is not the same as actually craving a vacation. In real life, you may wish for a Caribbean cruise because you need a break. But if you dream about sailing through uncharted waters, the meaning could be more complex, perhaps hinting at navigating through unknown emotional territories in your life. While interpreting dreams, it's crucial to recognize that one size doesn't fit all. Your travel dream is your own unique experience, so the meaning won't always be universal.

Popular Travel Dream Scenarios and Their Interpretations

There's a handful of travel scenarios that people commonly dream about, and each carries its own set of meanings. Let's dive in:

Flying or Soaring Through the Skies

This is an exhilarating dream that people often wish they could have again. Generally, it symbolizes a desire for freedom or an aspiration to rise above challenges. If you find yourself soaring like a bird, it could mean you're reaching for higher ambitions or looking for a way out of a situation that's bringing you down.

Being Lost in a New City

Ah, the classic! This dream taps into emotions like uncertainty and stress. It usually emerges when you're going through changes or making significant decisions. Feeling lost in a new city in your dream might suggest you're seeking direction in your life or grappling with feelings of dislocation and unfamiliarity.

Missing a Flight or Train

This dream could induce some real-world stress, couldn't it? If you've dreamt of missing a flight or train, it often reflects anxieties around lost opportunities or falling behind in life. It could indicate that you're feeling pressed for time or worried about making a pivotal life change.

Endless Road or Journey

Dreaming about an endless road usually encapsulates the concept of life's journey. It might signify your long-term goals, your life path, or your resilience when faced with challenges. This dream indicates that you're engaged in a process, not just hunting for a destination.

Luxury Cruise or Exotic Resort

Dreams about luxury cruises or exotic resorts are usually tied to desires for relaxation and reward. Maybe you've been working hard, and your subconscious thinks it's time for a treat. Alternatively, this dream might signify your need for a break from routine or for quality time to revitalize yourself.

The Emotions Behind Travel Dreams

Your emotional state plays a key role in the nature of your travel dreams. Positive emotional states often lead to dreams of exhilarating travel experiences, like exploring unknown lands or taking adventurous hikes. On the flip side, if you're anxious or stressed, it's more likely you'll dream about missing flights or getting lost—situations that amplify your emotional unease.

The Impact of Cultural and Personal Experiences

Your cultural background and personal experiences are like filters that shape your dream content. Someone who grew up by the sea might have different types of travel dreams than someone who was raised in a bustling city. Likewise, what you consume—be it books, movies, or social media—can impact your dreams about travel, sometimes in surprisingly creative ways.

How to Harness the Power of Travel Dreams

Your travel dreams can be potent tools for personal insight. Keeping a dream journal can help you catch recurring themes or symbols that might be trying to tell you something. You can also focus on the emotional tone of the dreams to provide clues for areas in your life that might need attention or change.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

There's no shortage of myths and misunderstandings about dreaming. Let's set the record straight on a few:

Every Travel Dream is a Premonition

Nope, not necessarily. Your dream of a tropical vacation doesn't mean you should rush to buy lottery tickets. Dreams are more symbolic than literal, offering perspectives on your emotional wellbeing.

Only Positive Dreams are Good

It's natural to prefer enjoyable dreams, but sometimes the unsettling ones offer the most profound insights. A dream that leaves you uncomfortable may be a signal to address something significant in your life.

Interpreting Dreams Literally

While it's tempting to apply dream events directly to real life, doing so often leads to confusion. Your dream about traveling to Mars probably doesn't mean you should become an astronaut—unless, of course, that's a lifelong goal!

These slumber-induced adventures offer more than just nightly entertainment; they often serve as windows to your soul. So the next time you wake up from a dream-filled journey, embrace it as a signpost on your personal path to understanding yourself better.

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Tropical Storm Shanshan Drenches Southern Japan, Disrupting Train and Air Travel

The storm weakened after making landfall as a typhoon, still posed the risk of landslides and floods as it moved at a crawling speed.

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By Hisako Ueno Yan Zhuang and John Yoon

Hisako Ueno reported from Okayama, Japan.

Tropical storm Shanshan was drenching southern Japan with record rainfall early Friday, a day after making landfall as a typhoon and flooding towns, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting travel and forcing more than four million evacuations.

The storm, the strongest to hit Japan this year, had maximum sustained winds of up to 46 miles per hour and gusts of 51 m.p.h. early on Friday, according to the U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center , which downgraded Shanshan from a typhoon to a tropical storm Thursday evening.

Shanshan had peaked at a strength equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall as a typhoon around 8 a.m. Thursday on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It was forecast to move north through Kyushu before shifting east on Friday and Saturday, moving further inland and losing strength.

The storm was weakening as it moved slowly inland, but the authorities issued warnings for landslides and floods in many parts of southwestern Japan. More than 4.1 million people were under evacuation orders nationwide on Thursday, Japan’s Cabinet Office said.

“This is one of the biggest typhoons in recent years, for a prefecture that experiences many typhoons every year,” Kensei Tomisako, a disaster response official in Satsumasendai, said in an interview.

Shanshan has brought record rainfall. Some parts of Kyushu recorded 2.6 feet of rain in 48 hours, forecasters said. The storm, inching north at less than 4 m.p.h. early on Friday, lashed some areas with rain for hours.

Three people died after a landslide on Tuesday buried their home in Gamagori, a city in central Japan that was hit by heavy rain, the local government said early Thursday. Another person died after a roof collapsed in Kamiita Town, according to Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK .

More than 80 people were injured in the storm, and one person was missing, the news agency said. More than 107,000 households were without power early Friday in Kyushu, the service provider Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution said.

Japan Airlines , one of the country’s largest airlines, canceled all flights to and from Nagasaki and seven other cities in Shanshan’s path on Thursday and said that many flights to and from 20 cities across the country on Friday had already been canceled. All Nippon Airways also canceled all flights that had been scheduled at Kansai International Airport for Friday.

Shinkansen bullet-train service was suspended on Thursday for all of Kyushu , along with service between Tokyo and Osaka, because of heavy rain. Many of the train lines linking major cities in western Japan , including Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima, were also suspended.

On Wednesday, the authorities issued rare emergency warnings for the storm in Kagoshima Prefecture, indicating that a large-scale disaster was possible, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The warnings were downgraded on Thursday morning.

Toyota announced that it would pause production at all 14 of its Japan factories starting Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning, the carmaker said that it would extend the suspension until Friday for all but one of the factories.

Derrick Bryson Taylor , Amanda Holpuch and Orlando Mayorquín contributed reporting.

Hisako Ueno is a reporter and researcher based in Tokyo, writing on Japanese politics, business, labor, gender and culture. More about Hisako Ueno

Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news. More about Yan Zhuang

John Yoon is a Times reporter based in Seoul who covers breaking and trending news. More about John Yoon

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Vulnerability Summary for the Week of August 19, 2024

The CISA Vulnerability Bulletin provides a summary of new vulnerabilities that have been recorded by the  National Institute of Standards and Technology  (NIST)  National Vulnerability Database  (NVD) in the past week. In some cases, the vulnerabilities in the bulletin may not yet have assigned CVSS scores. Please visit NVD for updated vulnerability entries, which include CVSS scores once they are available.

Vulnerabilities are based on the  Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures  (CVE) vulnerability naming standard and are organized according to severity, determined by the  Common Vulnerability Scoring System  (CVSS) standard. The division of high, medium, and low severities correspond to the following scores:

• High : vulnerabilities with a CVSS base score of 7.0–10.0
• Medium : vulnerabilities with a CVSS base score of 4.0–6.9
• Low : vulnerabilities with a CVSS base score of 0.0–3.9

Entries may include additional information provided by organizations and efforts sponsored by CISA. This information may include identifying information, values, definitions, and related links. Patch information is provided when available. Please note that some of the information in the bulletin is compiled from external, open-source reports and is not a direct result of CISA analysis.  

High Vulnerabilities

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Medium Vulnerabilities

Low vulnerabilities, severity not yet assigned.