Craig Makepeace - Founder
Craig Makepeace is a dynamic blogger, photographer, content creator, and entrepreneur, who is the founder of two online brands: 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.
Craig 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 My Carolina CBS17. In addition, YTravelBlog has received a Modern Ontrapreneuer award from Ontraport for “Best Online Publisher” and has been recognized by the White House… twice!
Craig was invited to the White House in 2014 as a top global travel influencer to attend the first travel summit. And he received a green card in 2020 for yTravel’s extraordinary ability in the art of travel blogging and for his contributions to the growth of tourism in the USA.
Before becoming an online entrepreneur, Craig played Professional Rugby League for six years in Sydney with the North Sydney Bears. Originally from Australia, Craig and his wife Caroline have been exploring the world together ever since they met in 2000. Together, they have visited over 56 countries and have lived in five countries.
They traveled full time with their daughters for seven years, which included an 18 month road trip around Australia and 11 months across the USA. He is an expert in family travel and running an online business from the road.
As a full time professional travel blogger since 2010, Craig has successfully worked with some of the biggest brands in the world including Lonely Planet, Airbnb, Canon, Amex, Ford, Nissan, Qantas, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Globus Tours, Allianz Travel Insurance.
Locally in Raleigh, he 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.
Craig is also a fully licensed drone operator and, aside from shooting images for This is Raleigh blog and social channels, he has captured images for the Carolina Hurricanes, Ocracoke and Outer Bank Tourisms, North Hills (Kane Realty) and more.
Craig’s passion for travel, combined with his expertise in digital marketing, has enabled him to create a successful online business that provides travel advice, inspiration, and resources to thousands of people worldwide.
Craig has presented at the Raleigh Rotary Club, Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and keynoted at the NC Public Relations Society of America Conference.
In addition to running his blog and social brand, Craig calls his work a personal mission to inspire and empower others to travel more and create a life they love. He’s proof that travel can be a lifestyle, and he’s passionate about helping others achieve the same level of freedom and fulfillment.
Craig first moved to Raleigh in 2004 and fell in love with the City of Oaks. He’s a travel addict, sports fanatic, beach lover, and passionate craft beer drinker.
ALL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY CRAIG MAKEPEACE
10 Awesome Short-Term Vacation Rentals In Raleigh NC
If you’re planning a trip to Raleigh and need a place to stay where you can spread out, cook for yourself, and feel like you’ve slipped into a home away from home, then you’d be wise to consider a vacation rental in Raleigh. Vacation rentals are the perfect properties for short term visitors, allowing you
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19 Local Raleigh Breweries for a Great Pint (and good vibes)
If you’re on the hunt for the best craft beer in the City of Oaks, then it’s high time you start checking out a few local Raleigh breweries, to which there are many! Raleigh is home to over 40 breweries (there are many more when you consider the whole of Wake County and surrounding towns),
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13 Great Places To Live in Raleigh For Families In 2024
If you’re a family and thinking of moving to Raleigh with kids, then you’re probably asking yourself which is the best neighborhood to live in. We ourselves were parents looking for the best places to live in Raleigh for families back in 2004, and now we’ve lived in Raleigh for 10+ years and work in
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Guide to Downtown Apex, NC (Things To Do & Places To eat)
Just a 20-minute drive from the City of Oaks and you’ve landed yourself in historic downtown Apex, NC. Founded in the 1860s, Apex is a small town in North Carolina known as the most intact turn-of-the-century railroad town that is now recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. The town is centered around the
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25 Stunning Vacation Rentals In Outer Banks [Best short term Stays!]
If you’re planning a trip to Outer Banks and need a place to stay, then you might want to consider a short term vacation rental. Vacation rentals are like slipping into a home away from home, where you can relax and unwind with your own living space, cook in your fully-equipped kitchen, and enjoy sunset
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12 Fantastic Museums in Raleigh (most of them FREE)
Raleigh doesn’t have big ticket attractions, but it does have some fantastic museums! What I love about the museums in Raleigh is that many of them are free to enter and run on donations. I also love how there are always special exhibitions and new installations popping up all the time, so you can go
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19 Coffee Shops in Downtown Raleigh (The Locals Love)
If you’re in need for a caffeine boost, then you’ll find many great local coffee shops in downtown Raleigh where you can get your espresso or latte fix, catch up with friends, or get some work done. Over the past 10 years that we’ve lived in Raleigh, the coffee scene has definitely upped its game
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Where To Find The Best BBQ in Raleigh (9 Mouth-watering Options)
Ok guys, we all know that Raleigh is the state capital, so when you’re looking for a mouth-watering North Carolina-Style Barbecue, look no further than Raleigh! You won’t be short of options of restaurants serving up this flavorful cuisine, so it’s only fitting that we narrow down the search for you and let you into
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17 Wonderful Parks in Raleigh, NC (To get to know Raleigh)
We are lucky to have many wonderful parks in Raleigh. Since Raleigh is such a green and nature-filled city, one of the best ways to get a real feel for the city of Raleigh is enjoying the parks and all the recreational activities they have to offer. Raleigh is well known for being the “City
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45 Interesting Facts About Raleigh, NC You May Not Have Known
Over the years, we’ve received a lot of questions about living in Raleigh and what makes it special, so we’ve decided it was time to lay out all the facts about Raleigh so you can get a clearer picture of the City of Oaks. Whether you’re planning to move to Raleigh or you’re just interested
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Where to Eat the Best Breakfast in Raleigh (17 Local Hot Spots)
If you’re wondering where to eat the best breakfast in Raleigh, then you’re in luck, because there’s no shortage of options in The City of Oaks! We love to go out for breakfast and enjoy a hearty meal to start our day. Since we’re a family of four, we each have different tastes about what
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33 Reasons We Love Living In Raleigh, NC (America’s Best Kept Secret)
Why do we love living in Raleigh, North Carolina? That’s a good question, and there’s more than one answer. We weren’t born in Raleigh, we actually decided to move here back in 2004 because we fell in love with the city; its greenery, thriving craft beer scene, close proximity to nature, and welcoming community and
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