Discover the geology, ecology, and human stories that transform beautiful places into unforgettable experiences. Through articles, field guides, itineraries, and travel planning, I help curious travelers experience Lake Superior and the Northwoods with greater understanding and intention.

Explore

Most travel advice tells you where to go.

I help you understand why it matters.

Every landscape is shaped by geology, ecology, and human histories.

Learning to read those layers transforms an ordinary trip into a richer experience.

When you practice landscape literacy, you bring home something priceless: a deeper way of seeing.

Transform Your Travel

Move Beyond the Postcard View With Landscape Literacy

Geology

The rocks beneath your feet shaped everything that came after.

Ecology

Plants, animals, and waterways reveal how a landscape lives and changes.

History

Every place holds stories that deepen our understanding of the present.

Connection to Place

Meaningful travel begins when you connect with a place—not just pass through it.

How Would You Like to Explore?

I provide a range of resources so you can learn to read the land on your own trips.

DIY Trip

Planning

Free Planners,

Articles,

Itineraries

Travel

Deeper

Digital Guides,

Deep Maps,

E-books

Personalized Planning

Itinerary Reviews, Travel Deeper Sessions,

Custom Itineraries

Learn

Together

Presentations,

Workshops,

Guided Experiences

Featured Destinations

Meet the Outdoors Historian

I'm Emily Macgillivray, PhD, and I created The Outdoors Historian because I believe the best trips don't just take us somewhere new—they help us see the world differently. As a historian and educator, I've spent years exploring how geology, ecology, history, and culture shape the places we visit. Today, I help curious travelers uncover those stories and experience landscapes with greater understanding and intention.

I call this reading the landscape. When we learn to notice the layers of a place—from ancient rock formations to Indigenous histories and living ecosystems—we don't just travel farther. We travel deeper.

Lake Superior is the perfect place to begin. Its remarkable landscapes are filled with stories waiting to be discovered, and I hope my articles, guides, and personalized planning services inspire you to explore this extraordinary region with fresh eyes.

Free Resources

The Lake Superior Circle Tour Planner

Less Stress, More Memories! 5 Strategic Tips to Planing a Meaningful Circle Tour

3-Day Bayfield

Itinerary

Go Beyond the Postcard View! Get the Deep Map Itinerary for Bayfield, Wisconsin

Field Notes

Read my Field Notes and Learn More About Reading the Landscape

Next Level Resources

The Lake Superior Circle: Historian's Field Guide

The Most Comprehensive Guide to the Circle Tour! Planning checklists, plug-and-play itineraries, and landscape literacy tips for the most iconic stops.

Before You Go: The Wisconsin South Shore

A Landscape Literacy Guide with practices to help you add depth to your next trip to the Wisconsin South Shore. Add more meaning with minimal prep time!

COMING VERY SOON!

The Deep Map Companion: The Wisconsin South Shore

COMING SOON!

A digital watercolormap, annotations including the significance of each step and a noticing exercise, and a Google Map with pins to each spot organized by layers!

The Outdoors Historian

Helping you read the landscape.

So you can see places differently.