May - August 2018 Roundup on Go Seek Explore

Self-reflection and Content Roundup on Go Seek Explore / View from the Top of the Rock, New York / goseekexplore.com / ally archer / top-of-rock-view-new-york-rockefeller

Since Go Seek Explore expands on other platforms aside from this website, I thought I'd put together a roundup of all the happenings and content I'm sharing both on and off the blog!

I started these roundups earlier this year with March and April 2018, but then life got extremely busy with work + travel so I decided to take a break from these this summer.

I wanted to bring this back and go over the past few months, since it was a long and crazy summer and I thought you may find it helpful or inspiring.

There is also a challenge for YOU at the end of this post - you don't want to miss it!

Summer 2018 Roundup on Go Seek Explore

Where I've Traveled

San Diego, California (Home!)

Malibu, California

Mexico City, Mexico

Newport Beach, California

Yale University - New Haven, Connecticut

New York City

Silicon Valley, California

Los Angeles, California

Fresh Content on the Blog

Travel Tips

Best Instagram Spots in San Diego (Gallery Walls)

Is Mexico City Safe For Travelers?

5 Great Restaurants To Try on Your Trip To Mexico City

5 Most Affordable Places I've Traveled (+ Recommend)

5 More Unique Ways to Work + Travel Abroad

Where To Go on an Authentic Safari

Work + Travel Lifestyle Tips

How to Plan Travel as a Digital Nomad (3 Quick Tips)

10 Signs You Need to Travel Again, ASAP

How I Edit Photos for Instagram and Travel Blogging

6 Unexpected Conveniences That Make the Digital Nomad Life So Much Easier

The 15 Best Jobs For People Who Love To Travel

Instagram Posts

Are you following on Instagram?! I post there most often with quick tips on creating a work + travel lifestyle, inspirational quotes, and motivational captions on life & travel.

I also hit 10,000 followers on Instagram on my birthday this year! Can I get a "HELL YEAH?!" HELL YEAH!

As always, thank YOU for following and if you're new, WELCOME!

Just arrived in Mexico City! I hadn’t really considered CDMX, but when my friend @espringer9 wanted to go, I couldn’t resist! And so far? I’m beyond happy to be here and excited to continue exploring this week. —— Here’s what we got up to today: • Walked around centro historico & ate breakfast at one of the cutest cafes + I had a short conference meeting • walk toward Chapultepec Park, saw Monumento a la Revolución so we walked up • decided to get tickets to go up to the very top - going up to a high viewpoint is one of my favorite things to do while traveling! • stopped at a Starbucks for another meeting and to get some work done over WiFi • got city bikes and biked to the park • apparently the park closes on Mondays (#facepalm) so the guard let us pass through as long as we didn’t go off the main path - it was almost empty! • biked to the Roma Norte neighborhood; dropped off the bikes • walked through some boutiques • got coffee at the cutest place (we were exhausted!) and then dinner #tacosalpastor 😍🌮 • home + finishing work + a failed attempt at live streaming tongiht’s episode of The Bachelorette 😂 —- First impressions: some of the nicest and friendliest Uber drivers I’ve had, friendly people in general, amaaaazing restaurants (Mexico City is often said to be one of the food capitals of the world), clean, high energy...anddd more that I am probably forgetting through the exhaustion that comes with the excitement of travel 😌 —— #mexicocity #cdmx🇲🇽 #mexicocityofficial #workandtravel #goseekexplore

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jun 4, 2018 at 9:17pm PDT

chillin on a pyramid just an hour north of Mexico City...this place is unreal! Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican City and you can walk around this archeological area. ___ It’s amazing how yesterday my friend and I went salsa dancing at a bar above a restaurant after walking by the giant skyscrapers of the city...and the next morning took a bus to ancient ruins. If I haven’t said this enough...I love #MexicoCity! ___ 📷 by @espringer9

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jun 6, 2018 at 5:51pm PDT

In order to do new things, you must be committed to change. You must be willing to give up the good to go for the great. ___ Tony Robbins once said, “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.” ___ How are you looking to change your life for the better? Most importantly, what are you doing about it? ___ Photo taken in #Malibu during the amazing Malibu Wines Safari!

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on May 31, 2018 at 12:18pm PDT

Had a blast cruising the #xochimilco canals near #MexicoCity! You rent one of these colorful boats (complete with a table and chairs) and can bring your own food and drinks...or you can buy food and drinks from other boats that float up to you! Music and mariachi boats also offer to play. ___ We even had these two guys jump over from a different boat (swipe to see the photo or see my IG stories highlights for that) and one of them almost got stuck - their friends were headed in the opposite direction hahah!

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jun 9, 2018 at 12:48pm PDT

“We're so young. We can't, we MUST not loose this sense of possibility because in the end, it's all we have.” ― Marina Keegan, The Opposite of Loneliness >>> highly recommend Marina’s book, which I read a few years ago. — Marina was a Yale student who sadly died less than a week after graduation. She left behind a number of essays & stories that I related to so much as a fellow recent college grad - feelings of optimism with uncertainty and everything in between. — If anything, let this be a reminder to enjoy your life and do the things you’re passionate about. If you’re not sure, move toward what feels right, light, and makes you happy - you’re bound to find some clues in there. — We only live once 💕🌎 #inspiringquotes #yaleuniversity #weekendmotivation

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jul 6, 2018 at 2:59pm PDT

✈️ how to stay healthy while traveling: 3 quick tips! —- 1️⃣ Walk everywhere 👟 you probably already do this, but it is worth noting! #RealTalk: way back when I studied abroad in Europe in college, I was SO nervous I wouldn’t have time to go to the gym. In the US, our culture is very driving-oriented (outside most big cities) and to stay fit, you have to make the gym or some sort of activity part of your daily routine. Spoiler alert: I went to the gym a total of 2x during my 6 weeks abroad and hardly use a gym when I travel now. 😂 Traveling often includes a LOT of walking and adventuring. So simply by going out and about, you’re likely staying pretty active already. —- 2️⃣ Bring healthy snacks 🥕 Unfortunately you can’t bring produce like veggies and fruit through international customs, so I like to travel with natural or paleo-friendly snacks - especially for the airport, which tends to have more processed (and overpriced!) snack choices and candy. @lesserevilsnacks just came out with new #Paleo Puffs and they’re perfect for travel days & other outdoor activities like going to the beach. ___ 3️⃣ Morning yoga + meditation 🧘🏻‍♀️ whether it’s a quick flow or a full routine, I open up a yoga video on YouTube and try to get in at least a few minutes in the morning. Not only does it stretch and ease sore muscles from all the walking and adventuring (not to mention long flights or train rides!), it centers my mind at the beginning of a busy travel day. —- How do you stay healthy when you travel?! — #ExploreLE, #IngredientsMeanEverything, #LesserEvil, # sp #pacificbeach #sandiegoliving #paleolifestyle

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jul 7, 2018 at 9:27am PDT

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” — There is something about traveling to new cities and places that sparks excitement, motivation, and growth. New York especially is perhaps the most motivating energy you’ll find in a big city, and I can’t get enough - it’s why I return time and time again. — It’s no secret that the more you travel, the more you learn, the more you grow, the more you change, the more you understand other people, cultures, and the world. — So do I agree with the quote above? Yes, yes I do. Travel is more than getting that photo for Instagram. And while I love taking & editing photos while traveling, it’s also about the feelings, people, and new experiences that come that contribute to positive self-growth. — Cheers to a life of travel and our beautiful world 🌎 — #inspirationalquotes #inspirational #thursdaymotivation #newyorker #flatironbuilding

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jul 26, 2018 at 2:13pm PDT

What inspires you? What lights you up? Is it an activity, place, or person? ☀️ When you find inspiration, ride the motivation wave. Fuel the energy with your creative flow. 🌃 New York is a city that inspires me time and time again. I don’t think I’d ever tire of the constant inspiration from being in this city! 🚖 #soho #newyork_ig #newyorkcity #creatives

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Jul 22, 2018 at 9:39am PDT

How would you describe yourself today? Take a moment to consider how you feel in /this/ exact moment. For me I’m feeling: Driven 😎 Passionate 🙏 Visionary 💡 Focused ☀️ Empathetic 💕 Goofy 🙃 A little tired 😴 >>> What about you? — Attended the @facebook Community Boost event with my friend @insucculentlove today 🌿 getting personalized feedback from FB experts was by far my favorite part! Feeling motivated 💪 —- #sandiegoliving #worklife #facebookcommunityboost

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Aug 7, 2018 at 5:19pm PDT

☀︎ “DIRECTION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SPEED.” - Tip Jar Label 😛 —- Saw this quote on a tip jar at a cafe during @hiveglobal’s GLS event I worked over the long weekend. I am absolutely buzzing with energy from being around heart-centered, purpose-driven people coming together from all over the world. —- #MotivationMonday: If you're struggling with impatience or lack of focus, consider your direction. Are you moving in the right direction? That's what matters most. 🙌 —- Oh and this photo was taken at the infinity tub at @1440multiversity right before I had to leave to head to the airport. Wishing I could teleport back to this amazing space any time I need a moment to relax 😌 —- #infinitypool #redwoodforest #hivegls #dametraveler #inspirationalquotes

A post shared by ALLY ARCHER ✈︎ (@allyarcher) on Aug 20, 2018 at 10:43am PDT

#MotivationMonday emails

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That's it for the roundup!

My Challenge For You for These Next Few Months

It's funny, I was thinking I didn't travel "that much" this summer since I only went to one international destination and spent an entire month teaching at Yale.

In reality, I visited many amazing destinations all over California, saw plenty of family and friends, spent time at home (and I LOVE where I live), got to teach at Yale, took two trips to NYC while I was on the east coast, and went to Mexico City for the first time.

Self-reflection is so important - it helps you realize how much you actually do day in and day out. Like I always say, start small. Take one baby step every day as that is guaranteed to get you closer to your goals. It might not feel like much every day, but you may surprised by how far you've come when you look back.

Now that it's almost September (uhh, what?!) I challenge you to continue working toward both your travel related and non-travel related goals this season.

What steps can you take to move forward? Where will you be a few months from now?

Thank you

Thank you for reading. Thank you for being here and for your support.

Ultimately, thank YOU for going after your goals and spreading positivity. The more people who take action aligned with their goals, the more The Ripple Effect will spread to others who are inspired to do the same. CHEERS :)