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
Best Things to Do in Raleigh this Weekend + (Sept 14 – Sept 20, 2026)
This is a big weekend for events. It will be hard to make a decision, but know this, last year we fit in three major festivals in one day! So, if you plan well and bring your high vibe energy you can do it! Those events for us were the Downtown Cary Park’s Fall Festival,
26 of The BEST Raleigh Fall Festivals & Events (2026 Guide)
We love Fall: it’s the season full of exciting festivals, lively events, pumpkin treats, open roaring fireplaces and flannel-clad everything. Here in Wake County, when summer’s sizzle softens into a cooling glow and the leaves change from green to red, you’d think the festival stages would start packing up for the year, but it’s actually
The Best New Restaurants in Raleigh, 2026
I wasn’t excited about Sunflower’s Cafe reopening. Happy, sure. A Raleigh icon coming back is always good news. But I’d already decided what it would be. Another cafe where I can’t eat much. We popped not long after opening, in between events, needing something quick before an evening gala a block away. I ended up
13+ Places to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Raleigh (+ Nearby) For 2026
Okay friends, it’s time to dust off your lederhosen and pump up your beer arms, as it’s almost time for Oktoberfest in Raleigh, the most joyful event in the Autumn season. Oktoberfest is where Bavarian spirit meets Southern hospitality, pumping the air with the scent of sizzling and spicy bratwurst, the sound of oompah bands
19 Best Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes near Raleigh
Fall is the one season that turns a drive out of Raleigh into the whole point of the day. Past the new subdivisions and the widened roads, there are still working farms out here. Some have been in the same family for over 100 years. And every September they open the gates for pumpkin picking,
How to Enjoy First Friday in Raleigh + This month’s events)
If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to kick off the first weekend of the month in Raleigh, North Carolina, look no further than First Friday! This popular Raleigh event is a great way to explore the city’s vibrant arts scene, sample delicious food and drinks, and connect with your community. You don’t
Guide to the best Events in Raleigh for September 2026
I often feel conflicted when September arrives. I’m so overjoyed as I absolutely love Fall in Raleigh and all the fun that is to come between now and the holidays. But it’s a month that also chips away a little at that joy because it means summer is on the way out! Another reason we
Hum Sub Diwali 2026 is coming to Cary, and everyone’s invited
Picture the scene. The sun’s going down over Koka Booth Amphitheatre, string lights strung between food stalls, the aroma of Indian food is close enough that you can smell it from the lawn. A live band tunes up in front of a crowd that’ll hit 15,000 before the night’s over. Then the fireworks go up
Raleigh finally has real beignets (Here’s what to know about that)
Our girls begged us to go to Café du Monde. They’d heard about this famous New Orleans place that had French style donuts buried in powdered sugar, and it’s open 24 hours, so every time we walked through the French Quarter and Jackson Square the case got stronger. Mardi Gras, 2018. We gave in. They
Everything you need to know about Hopscotch Music Festival 2026
September marks the beginning of fall, a new school year, and the 16th annual Hopscotch Music Festival – a time when the city is transformed into a sonic playground. Over three days, from September 10 -12, downtown Raleigh becomes host to 150 live musicians, and performers, performing on two large stages in Moore Square and
Packapalooza 2026: A Guide to NC State’s Biggest Block Party on Hillsborough Street
Every August, Hillsborough Street explodes with energy, music, and Wolfpack pride during Packapalooza, NC State’s ultimate welcome back to campus bash. This day-long block party brings together students, locals, families, alumni, and visitors for one of the biggest celebrations in Raleigh. Whether you’re new to the Wolfpack family or a longtime fan of the red
The Kirby Derby: Raleigh’s wild, homemade, gravity-powered day of fun
Back in 2009, a friend told us we had to come see something happening in a tiny neighborhood near Pullen Park. She wouldn’t really explain it. Just said, trust me, be there. So we went. And it was wild. Grown adults sending handbuilt carts hurtling down a hill. No engines. No brakes worth mentioning. A
The Best Events in Raleigh in August 2026: Festivals, Concerts, & Top fun
You know we’ve now arrived at the time when Raleigh experiences only three temperatures: hot, hotter, and hottest. Yep, summer in Raleigh can be intense, but we personally love it. You might be trading in the hiking boots and bike helmets for ice cold ales in an air-conditioned Raleigh brewery. I kinda get it, but I’m
11 Places to Stay near Duke University, Durham, for a Campus Visit
If you’re planning on visiting Duke University in Durham, you’re not short of accommodation near Duke’s leafy campus to use as your base. However, Durham isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination. You can wake up in a grand, historic inn with polished wood floors or in a sleek boutique hotel that feels more like an art gallery
The Best Events in Raleigh in July 2026: Summer Fun has Begun!
Summer is really happening now! Big Raleigh events and festivals are much quieter in July, but live music, theatre, and concerts are in huge demand! People are flocking to cool down at our nearby lakes, and a little further to our NC beaches, and the sunflowers are getting ready to bloom! The World Cup soccer
Sizzling Summer Vibes in North Hills: Your Guide to Fun, Food & Family Events [2026 Update]
If you’re craving summer vibes that sizzle, North Hills is where it’s at. No need to complain it’s too hot, because not only does Midtown Raleigh have plenty of things to enjoy inside, plus outdoor spaces with cooling fans and mists, there’s frozen treats to turn down the heat! Whether you’re planning a date night,
Raleigh’s 4th July Events: Where to see fireworks + other activities!
We figured out quickly after moving to the USA and Raleigh that July 4th is the biggest day of the year. Especially in 2026, which marks America’s 250th birthday, so celebrations are going to be bigger than ever (if that’s even possible). It’s a day for celebration with those you love, coming together to eat
Getaway to Danville & Pittsylvania County, Virginia: a getaway guide for Raleigh Weekenders (90 minutes away)
We didn’t plan to fall for Danville. We drove up to this small city on the Dan River just over the border not really knowing what to expect. What we found was a layered little city with a tobacco-and-textile past, a civil rights story most people in Raleigh have never heard, a river trail that