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
19 Fun Things to Do in Manteo & Roanoke Island, NC
Most people visiting the Outer Banks will cruise right on by Roanoke Island and Manteo in favor of the beautiful beaches in the OBX, but little do they know there are plenty of things to do in Manteo to make it worth a pit stop on the way. On our last winter vacation to Manteo,
Best of Wilmington, NC: An Overnight Itinerary from Raleigh [2026 Update]
When my parents visited from Australia, a requested experience from them was to visit Wilmington. We passed through here for a day over a decade ago on our East Coast Road trip from Williamsburg, Virginia, to Savannah, Georgia, and they loved the feel of the small, historic North Carolina town on the Cape Fear River
How To Plan A Date Night in Johnston County, NC (40-mins from Raleigh)
Craig and I are always on the hunt for unique date night ideas and are often tired of the same old options in the Raleigh area, so we opted for a date day out in Johnston County. Whether it’s daytime or nighttime dates, Craig and I are always crafting unique ways the two of us
How to Plan a Getaway to Beaufort, SC: Things to Do + Where to Stay
If the bustling scenes of Raleigh get too much, then the perfect getaway for a quiet, relaxing stay is the historic city of Beaufort. It’s 4 hours away from Raleigh, making it the ideal destination for a long weekend away from the city, or even longer. Much of the city can be explored quite easily
8 Delicious Pumpkin Treats To Indulge In This Fall Season [2026 Edition!]
When the weather turns crisp and the leaves change to Autumnal shades of red, yellow, and orange, you know it’s Fall. What’s the best thing about Fall? Of course, it’s all the pumpkin-flavored treats that make their way onto seasonal menus across the City of Oaks! No, we’re not talking Pumpkin Spiced Lattes from Starbucks,
Complete Guide To the Village District + Things To Do in 2026 (Formerly Cameron Village)
The Village District, formerly known as Cameron Village in the northwest of Downtown Raleigh, is most well known for being a shopping hub in Raleigh, but there is more to see and do here than hit the malls. We regularly go for a family day out at the Village District to visit its top attractions
27 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
18+ 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,
First Friday Raleigh: October 2026 Events + How to Enjoy It
Last updated Sept 28, 2026 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
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