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!)
Her most recent creation, in partnership with her good Entrepreneur friend, Christina is the Empowered Women’s Collective, a mindset-focused membership designed for female entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals who are ready to break free from self-doubt and limiting beliefs, take bold action, and create more success with clarity and confidence.
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
Guide to the 11th Annual Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheater, Cary (2026)
It’s that time of year again – a time to be amazed by the dazzling lights of the 11th annual North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary. From November 21, 2026, until January 10, 2027, the Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be illuminated by thousands of LED lights and strobe lighting, creating a mesmerizing spectacle and
Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Raleigh 2026 (Dine-In, Takeout & Pies)
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we know many of you are looking for the perfect spot to enjoy a holiday meal without the hassle of cooking. You’re probably manically searching “Thanksgiving dinner restaurants near me” in Raleigh and struggling to sift through the weeds of those terrible search results. After getting flooded with questions
The Best Events in Raleigh in November 2026
November in Raleigh has a hinge in it. The first half still feels like fall. Football Saturdays, leaves finally turning, the kind of weather you move here for. Then one Saturday in the third week, the whole city flips into the holidays at once. That Saturday is November 21 this year, and, as normal it
Tree Lighting Ceremonies in The Triangle: Where to Kick Off the 2026 Holiday Season!
When it’s time to start rocking around a Christmas tree, there’s no shortage of places to do it in the Triangle. Every town out here has its own version. Some are a mayor flipping a switch and a chorus singing two songs. Some run all day and end with fireworks. We’ve been to a lot
Best Things to Do in Raleigh This Weekend + (Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2026)
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and the whole week builds up to it. There are trunk-or-treats in Raleigh, Cary and Morrisville on Thursday, Witches Night Out in downtown Apex and a free skate night at Dix Park on Friday, and the Hurricanes are home three times, against Boston, Columbus and Winnipeg. Halloween itself
Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026: Route, Times & Best Places to Watch
Last updated Oct 2026 The sleigh bells are ringing and it’s time to grab a warm morning drink and head to the streets of downtown Raleigh on Saturday November 21, 2026, for the 82nd annual ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade presented by Shop Local Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association. We first experienced the Raleigh
Holiday Grandeur on the 55th Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour 2026
Historic Oakwood has always been a neighborhood we’ve dreamed of living in, and the annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour further cemented that. On December 12 & 13, 2026 join Raleigh for the 55th annual candlelight tour, as we wander the streets enjoying the beautiful homes decorated for Christmas. Historic Oakwood is a community of homes
7 Best getaways from Raleigh in the Fall season (scenic drives, hikes & more)
Start your engines Raleigh, it’s time to chase the Fall across North Carolina on a getaway from Raleigh. In our opinion, NC has some of the best places in the USA to visit for leaf peeping, since Western North Carolina boasts one of the longest seasons for Fall foliage. The Great Smoky Mountains region has more
84 New Foods You Have to Try at the 2026 N.C. State Fair
The list is out. The N.C. State Fair just released its 2026 new foods, and there are 84 of them this year. Every October the same question lands in our inbox. What’s new on the midway for NC State Fair food? This year the answer is Biscoff. It turns up on a Korean corn dog,
Where To See Fall Colors In Raleigh & The Triangle Region
It’s that time of year again when the weather has cooled and the trees are starting to showcase those vibrant Fall colors we all love. But where is the best place to see Fall colors in Raleigh? Where can I gaze upon the most incredible Fall foliage in the Triangle region? Well, you’re about to
A Comprehensive Guide to Living in Wendell, North Carolina [2026 Update]
Welcome to Wendell, a charming town in eastern Wake County, North Carolina, that is growing in popularity each year. If you’re considering moving to Wendell, you’re likely looking for a place with small-town charm, a sense of community, and proximity to larger cities like nearby Raleigh. It’s one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing areas for those
The Ultimate Guide to Halloween Events in Raleigh & the Triangle (2026)
Is there a holiday more fun than Halloween? I think not. Halloween in Raleigh is one of the biggest events of the year. It wasn’t until we moved to the USA and went to our first Halloween house party that we experienced the fun of dressing up in costume and partying with friends. I was shocked at
Raleigh Wide Open 2026: Free Music Festival Guide, Lineup & Schedule
This October, one of the largest free urban bluegrass festivals in the state is coming to Raleigh. The Raleigh Wide Open festival, brought by Piedmont-based music nonprofit PineCone, will be rocking the stages in downtown Raleigh on Oct 2 & 3, 2026 Grab your banjos and put on your dancing shoes for two days of
Best Events In Raleigh In October 2026: Fair, Festivals & Halloween | This Is Raleigh
There’s a morning in early October where I walk out to the porch with my coffee and actually need a jacket. Not a real one. The kind you take off by ten. But it’s the first signal that the summer that’s been sitting on this city since May has finally let go. And then October
NC State Fair 2026 Guide: Tickets, Parking, Food & Tips
There is no bigger celebration of local North Carolinian community than the NC State Fair – the largest annual event in North Carolina! Every year in October, as the temperatures are cooling (but still hot days linger) and the leaves change, the smell of cotton candy and the sounds of laughter and cheer fill the
Band Together Mighty Giveback: Raleigh’s biggest benefit concert
This will be our first Band Together Mighty Giveback, and we already know we’ll love it. Because we know the cofounder, Danny Rosin. We’ve spent the past two years bumping into Danny around Raleigh’s live music scene. Hopscotch. The small venues. The late shows. He’s the one who hands us his tips on which bands
11 Top Neighborhoods in Apex, NC (suburban living near Raleigh)
The charming town of Apex offers a wonderful lifestyle. It has seen rapid growth in recent years for a reason and is considered one of the most popular and mature neighborhoods within easy commutes of Raleigh and Durham. It’s known for its tree-lined streets, historic downtown with charming architecture, top-rated schools, and a lower price
