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
Guide to Lenovo Center (Formerly PNC Arena): Home of Carolina Hurricanes & NC State Basketball
For 25 years Lenovo Center, formerly known as PNC Arena, in Raleigh has played host to a wide range of events and performers including sports events, concerts and other live performances. In this guide I’m sharing all you need to know about the arena including parking, tickets, food and beverages, how to get there, hotels
7 Best Hotels Near Lenovo Center (Formerly PNC Arena) In Raleigh
If you are looking for hotels in Raleigh near Lenovo Center (formerly Raleigh PNC Arena) to attend a sporting event or concert, then you’ve come to the right place. Rather than shifting through numerous booking sites, I’ve narrowed down the search for you and hand-picked six hotels based on local knowledge, excellent reviews, and personal
17 Top Downtown Cary Restaurants: The Best Dining Spots To Savor The Flavor!
For some of the best culinary experiences in Wake County, head to downtown Cary, where the only thing more diverse than the menu options is the number of ways you can mispronounce “quinoa.” Whether you’re looking for a new place for breakfast, lunch or brunch, a relaxed venue for a date night, or some sophisticated
15 Top Hillsborough Street Restaurants: Where to Wine, Dine & Unwind!
If you’re looking for new places to wine and dine in Raleigh, consider Hillsborough Street, where the culinary scene sizzles hotter than a jalapeño on a warm summer’s eve! If you thought this vibrant street was just a thoroughfare for students and traffic, think again. Thanks to the variety of Hillsborough Street restaurants, this much-loved
Why We Love Jubala Coffee: Is This Raleigh’s Best Coffee Shop?
It’s not hard to find a coffee shop in Raleigh, there seems to be one every hundred meters, but none drive us back more often than Jubala Coffee on Hillsborough Street. Jubala has been our go-to coffee shop for many years now, because they consistently make great coffee, the vibe is always on point, the
The 3 Best North Georgia Mountain Resorts For A Vacation From Raleigh
The North Georgia Mountains are an easy six hour drive from Raleigh, and are the perfect mountain vacation destination for those who want to leave the state but without boarding a plane. Even though we grew up by the beach, we love escaping to the mountains and being amongst the forest. We yearn for outdoor
13 Reasons To Stay At The StateView Hotel in Raleigh [An Honest Review]
There’s so much we loved about our staycation at the StateView Hotel in Raleigh, from the lakeside location to the onsite restaurant, to the top-notch hotel amenities. When you stay at the StateView Hotel, you’re literally next to Lake Raleigh with a forest backdrop. The StateView Hotel autograph collection by Marriott Bonvoy is Raleigh’s only
8 Reasons To Stay at the Residence Inn, Raleigh Downtown [Review]
Raleigh is not short of hotels in the downtown district, but whenever people ask which is our favorite, we always point them in the direction of the Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown. Not only is it within easy walking distance of Raleigh’s dynamic downtown scene, including concert venues, museums, restaurants, and bars, but it’s comfortable, has
Hiking Sal’s Branch Trail in Umstead State Park (good for all levels)
If you’re on the hunt for nature trails through the forest, that’s not too challenging and child-friendly, should absolutely check out the Sal’s Branch Trail in William B. Umstead State Park. Sal’s Branch Trail is probably the most popular of the Umstead park trails and is a good option for those with small children looking
Where Is Raleigh, NC? + How To Get There & Its History
Although Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina, not many people outside of the state really know where it is! If you’ve ever been asking yourself, where is Raleigh, North Carolina and how do I get there? Then you’re not alone. Raleigh is a centrally located city in the state of North Carolina, 3 hours
Guide To Historic Yates Mill County Park: A Place for Tranquility & History
The Historic Yates Mill County Park is the place to be if you love learning about local history, walking nature trails, and escaping the honking and hustle of downtown in your free time. It will make you feel like you’re a million miles away (but you’re only a 10-minute drive from downtown). Yep, it’s hard
Big Ed’s Raleigh – Classic Southern Breakfast the Locals Love!
If you’re looking for a delicious and authentic Southern style breakfast in Raleigh, then you’re going to want to head down to the local’s favorite Big Ed’s! Big Ed’s Raleigh, who have been serving up generous portions of Southern comfort food since 1958, starts by walking up the charming cobblestone streets in historic City Market.
Heirloom Brewshop: What Is It Like? An Honest Review
Heirloom Brewshop makes our favorite latte in the City of Oaks (we are primarily latte drinkers), but that’s not the only reason we keep going back! Of course, people’s opinions of what makes a great cup of Joe and the space in which it is served is subjective, but it’s one of our favorite coffee
Nature Trails at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary, NC
If you’ve got a case of cabin fever and you need to get your nature detox, then Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is where you want to go. It’s one of the few nature preserves in the State of North Carolina, and is made up of 140 acres of unique plant life, such as the Eastern
Highlights Of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Museum
NOTE: The museum is currently undergoing a major renovation that will enhance the visitor experience and expand the museum’s ability to serve the public in new and dynamic ways. While the building is closed, it continues to engage the public through programs and digital resources. Construction started summer 2025 and is expected to last 2-3 years!!!
Visit Idle Hour Coffee Roasters, Raleigh For Neighborhood Vibes + Great Coffee
A welcome addition to the Raleigh coffee scene as of August, 2020 was the boutique Idle Hour Coffee Roasters in the Oberlin neighborhood, just 3 miles from downtown Raleigh. I love the neighborhood feel of this coffee shop. It’s the type of cafe I dream of having as my local where I just walk or
Guide To Visiting North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Downtown
Let me start by saying we’re not big museum people, and typically avoid them when we travel, but the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is different. For us to be interested in visiting a museum, it has to be something special. The NC Museum of Natural Science is the Southeast’s largest natural history museum
17+ Delicious Outer Banks Restaurants To Satisfy Your Cravings
One thing I know for certain from our time spent in the Outer Banks, there’s no shortage of wonderful places to eat. Being by the coast, you can expect to find an abundance of locally caught, fresh seafood and Southern fare, as well as organic produce and relaxed, family-friendly vibes. We know that when planning