CAROLINE MAKEPEACE - FOUNDER THISISRALEIGH.COM

Caroline Makepeace is the co-founder of two successful online publications: : This is Raleigh, a platform for anyone looking to explore the best of Wake County, and YTravelBlog, one of the world’s most influential travel blogs.

Caroline has worked with the biggest brands in the world and has been featured by notable sites such as the Today Show, Conde Nast, and FOX Business, USA Today, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, National Geographic online and ABC Radio.  In addition, YTravelBlog has been recognized by the White House… twice!

She was invited to the White House in 2014 as a top global travel influencer to attend the first travel summit. And she received a green card in 2020 for her extraordinary ability in the art of travel blogging and for her contributions to the growth of tourism in the USA.

Caroline has written two ebooks, How to Create a Travel Life you Love and 12 Steps to Sacredness to help people lean into the life they really want and create epic memories. She also created a course, “6 steps to move from Blog to Business,” to help entrepreneurs make money from their love of blogging and a 6-week online program “30 days to Money Mindfulness” to help people improve their relationship with money (and create more of it!)

Caroline and Craig created an in-depth training guide on how to travel the USA for foreign teachers living in the USA, and a webinar to help Australians travel through Idaho. They are currently creating an in-depth training guide on relocating to Raleigh.

Caroline regularly speaks at conferences around the world on various topics such as global travel, family travel, social media, influencing and entrepreneurship.

She has keynoted some of the world’s biggest travel conferences like TBEX and Women’s Travel Fest. She has also presented at conferences such as Problogger, New York Times Travel Show, and the Travel and Adventure Show.

Locally in Raleigh, she has presented at the Women’s Social Club, Raleigh Women in Marketing, City Club Raleigh, The Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and keynoted at the NC Public Relations Society of America Conference.

Caroline is also a licensed real estate agent in the state of North Carolina. She partners with a high-quality, successful broker to help people relocate and settle into their new life in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is currently creating an in-depth moving to Raleigh guide.

In addition to running the blog and social brand, Caroline calls her work a personal mission to inspire and empower others to travel more and create a life they love. Her family is proof that travel can be a lifestyle!

Caroline has made travel the core focus of her life since 1997. She’s lived in 5 countries, traveled to over 60, traveled 7 years full time with her two daughters, and has been a full-time professional travel blogger since 2010 working with some of the biggest brands in the world including Lonely Planet, Airbnb, Canon, Amex, Ford, Nissan, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Globus Tours, Allianz Travel Insurance.

Locally in Raleigh, she has worked with big brands and small businesses such as RDU- International Airport, Nextdoor, Kane Realty, Outer Banks Tourism, Blue Water Spa, and Harris Teeter.

Caroline also goes by the name of Caz Makepeace- the shortened version of Caroline (it’s an Australian thing!) Caz is the flighty Libran of the Makepeace family, bringing harmony to the family through crystals, meditation, and downward dogs (and the odd glass of wine at 5pm). It’s all about the balance, right?

ALL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY CAROLINE MAKEPEACE

Giant colorful balls in a city street

90+ Things to Do in Raleigh this Weekend (May 14 – May 20, 2024)

By Caroline Makepeace / May 14, 2024

Looking for fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend? This weekly update, hand crafted by us, will help you plan for memorable moments with your friends, family, or even just by yourself. We update this post every Tuesday to share the weekly events in Raleigh this weekend and until the following Monday. We try

Read More
Shopping complex surrounded by trees.

Ultimate Guide to Fenton, Cary (Eat, Shop, Play & Live)

By Caroline Makepeace / May 9, 2024

When I first saw them breaking ground on the Fenton development in Cary back in late 2020, I without a doubt cussed. One of the reasons we love Raleigh and the surrounding Wake County is because of the “living in a forest feel” you get, which is why I withdrew from Fenton for so long.

Read More
beach with beach houses along the sand

12 Awesome Things to Do in Ocean Isle Beach, NC

By Caroline Makepeace / May 9, 2024

We have plenty of amazing white sand beaches on the North Carolina Coast, but none are more breathtaking than the pure white sands of North Carolina’s Ocean Isle Beach. Although famed for its blissful beaches, there are many things to do in Ocean Isle Beach, from zip line experiences to turtle conservation experiences, there’s so

Read More
people smiling at the camera while eating food

17 Fun Ideas for Celebrating Mother’s Day in Raleigh

By Caroline Makepeace / May 6, 2024

Mother’s Day is a special day to celebrate the one person in your life who loves you unconditionally and you can always turn to for advice, supportive words, and fierce hugs. We hope this list brings you creative ideas for celebrating Mother’s Day in Raleigh and beyond to help you do that this coming Sunday,

Read More
group of bikers standing together on bridge

Brews, Burgers, & Greenway Views: A Fun eBike Tour with Triangle Adventures

By Caroline Makepeace / May 4, 2024

We’ve been saying for years, Raleigh needs some good tours – preferably on bikes that take you on a brew crawl! Well, we found this fun Raleigh adventure last weekend down in Clayton, Johnston County, only about a 20–30-minute drive from Raleigh. (one of our favorite places to visit on a day trip from Raleigh)

Read More
People walking along a street looking at art displays in tents.

The Best Events in Raleigh for May 2024: Your Fun Guide!

By Caroline Makepeace / April 29, 2024

The pollen is over, and the trees are in full bloom. It’s Marvelous May in Raleigh when environmental conditions are perfect for celebrating outside. In this post we’re sharing what we think are some of the of the best events in Raleigh for May. And tell us in the comments at the bottom what you

Read More
family posing in front or roanoke mural

15 Exciting Things To Do In Roanoke and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

By Caroline Makepeace / April 28, 2024

Being a large, metropolitan hub nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains chain, you can be sure to find plenty of things to do in Roanoke that make it the perfect weekend trip from Raleigh. Roanoke in Virginia is less than a 3-hour drive from Raleigh. We’ve said it many times that we

Read More
people sitting at a rooftop bar

30 Unique and Fun Date Night Ideas for Raleigh (For All Occasions)

By Caroline Makepeace / April 26, 2024

It can be difficult coming up with date ideas in Raleigh NC when you feel you’ve exhausted your options. As a local couple who live here, we’re always on the hunt for new and unique things to do as a couple, and we’re excited to share our date night ideas with you! Even though February

Read More
A couple drinking cocktails standing up with water views.

Savor the Festival Flavors In The Crystal Coast On A Couples Getaway

By Caroline Makepeace / April 19, 2024

Dolphins swimming by during breakfast. Kayaking past wild horses before lunch. Savoring local Bites & Blues in the afternoon. Dancing to live music in the evening. Does a couple’s getaway from Raleigh get much better than the Crystal Coast? Last weekend, Craig and I escaped from the kids for a well-earned parent break to Beaufort

Read More
Ballet dancers practicing in a studio for Cary Ballet.

Discover the Magic of Ballet with the Cary Ballet Company Spring Works Dance Performance!

By Caroline Makepeace / April 9, 2024

In a world brimming with screens and digital distractions, finding wholesome, enchanting entertainment for the whole family can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But fear not, nestled in the heart of Wake County lies an experience that will transcend you to a realm of timeless elegance and whimsy – the

Read More
Green bucket filled with strawberries.

15 Strawberry Picking Farms near Raleigh (Wake County & Beyond)

By Caroline Makepeace / April 9, 2024

Who doesn’t love the sweet taste of strawberries in the spring? They’re even sweeter when you pick them yourselves, and if you’ve started researching “strawberry picking near me”, we’ve got you covered. Thankfully, we have plenty of strawberry picking farms near Raleigh in Wake County and further afield into our neighboring counties less than an

Read More
Espresso Martini in a cocktail glass.

RALEIGH SPEAKS: Where To Get The Best Espresso Martini in Raleigh?

By Caroline Makepeace / April 8, 2024

Long-time followers of ours will know we’re always asking the locals where to find the “best of” experiences and hidden secrets. Our Instagram and Facebook updates are flooded with suggestions, but what’s annoying about those platforms is that it’s difficult to track the tips and find them again once it drops out of the feed!

Read More
Scroll to Top