way station
Brief journey pause
A way station is a stopping point along a route, originally a place where stagecoaches or trains paused for passengers and supplies.
The term now applies figuratively to any intermediate stage in a journey or process: The hostel was just a way station on her cross-country trip.
Community college served as a way station before university.
Break between connecting flights
- haltComplete sudden stop
- sojournBrief stay away
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- breakInterrupt continuity
rest · overnight · lodging · pit stop · changeover · transfer point · midpoint · halfway house
At the endpoint
- platformRaised flat structure
- depotVehicle storage facility
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- transferMove between locations
hub · junction · connection · commute · passengers · ticket · departure · arrival
Protected place or structure
- havenShelter from danger
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- respiteShort pause from hardship
oasis · resting place · safe harbor · asylum · hideaway · bolthole · waypoint · breather
Notable event marking progress
- stepping stoneIntermediate stage toward goal
- intermediateBetween two levels
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- passageSegment of text
phase · stage · checkpoint · marker · progression · advancement · bridge · gateway
layover
Break between connecting flights
break · rest · overnight · lodging · pit stop · changeover · transfer point · midpoint · halfway house · staging post
terminal
At the endpoint
- platformRaised flat structure
- depotVehicle storage facility
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
transfer · hub · junction · connection · commute · passengers · ticket · departure · arrival · rail
shelter
Protected place or structure
respite · oasis · resting place · safe harbor · asylum · hideaway · bolthole · waypoint · breather · relief
milestone
Notable event marking progress
- stepping stoneIntermediate stage toward goal
- intermediateBetween two levels
- thresholdPoint of beginning
passage · phase · stage · checkpoint · marker · progression · advancement · bridge · gateway · turning point
pilgrimage
Religious journey to shrine
- trekArduous overland journey
- voyageJourney by sea
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
odyssey · migration · passage · trail · route · itinerary · milestone · checkpoint · leg · segment
- Old Westcowboy, cowboys, cowgirl, sheriff, sheriffs
- frontier towngeneral store, saloon, sheriff's office, livery stable, hitching post
- stationsworkstation, waystation, substation, firehouse, depot
- telegraphytelegraph, Morse code, telegraphy, telegraph key, telegraph line
- wayfarer lodginginn, hostel, guesthouse, caravanserai, khan
- waypointstrailhead, campsite, rest area, rest stop, checkpoint
way stationterminus
Final destination point
journey's end · end of the line · last stop · goal · destination
way stationpermanent home
Lasting place of residence
home · forever home · settlement · residence · dwelling
way stationpoint of origin
Where something starts
starting point · point of departure · origin · trailhead · source
way, station, highway, subway, railway, driveway, walkway, stationary, pathway