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

Aerial view of city buildings and surrounding streets and trees.

48 Hours in Ralegh (Itinerary): Where to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay

By Craig Makepeace / December 21, 2023

If you’re planning to spend 48 hours in Raleigh, we have called this city our home for 10+ years and the below two-day itinerary is our personal guide on the best things to do including where to eat, drink, play and stay! As one of the South’s most vibrant and eclectic cities, we have a […]

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Man shopping for clothes in a store.

North Hills Gift Guide – 18 Places to Shop This Holiday Season!

By Craig Makepeace / November 20, 2023

Not sure what to buy your loved one’s this holiday season? I know shopping for holiday gifts can be overwhelming whether you’re looking for a gift for her, a gift for him, a gift for the kids, or stocking stuffers. It can be time consuming. To help you out we’ve put together this North Hills […]

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Mom and daughters in front of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

18 Top Cities Near Raleigh To Visit (within 8 hours drive)

By Craig Makepeace / November 7, 2023

If you’re looking for a break from the City of Oaks, then you might be in the mood to visit some other cities near Raleigh that make for the perfect day trip or weekend getaway. We love living in Raleigh and all it has to offer, but sometimes you just need to shake things up […]

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Aerial photo of houses in a neighborhood with green trees and a pool.

5 Top Neighborhoods in Wake Forest, North Carolina

By Craig Makepeace / October 31, 2023

If you’re interested in moving to Wake Forest, in the below post we are sharing helpful insights on the best neighborhoods in Wake Forest to consider calling home whether you are a family, a couple, or you live alone. The charming town of Wake Forest offers a wonderful lifestyle and is considered one of the […]

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Woman holding a cocktail glass next to 4 cupcakes.

Fall Season Fun in North Hills (events, seasonal menus, shopping)

By Craig Makepeace / October 16, 2023

With 130+ local shops, fun outdoor concerts, excellent restaurants, bars, a farmers’ market and boutique shopping, North Hills is worth a visit any time of year.  But now that Fall season is officially upon us here in Raleigh, this brings new concert events, drink specials and seasonal menu items at many of the fantastic restaurants […]

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A city park in the shape of a square with green grass and oak trees surrounding it.

Guide to Moore Square: One of Downtown Raleigh’s 6 Districts

By Craig Makepeace / October 7, 2023

One of the many reasons we love living in Raleigh is the abundance of green spaces and tree lined streets. And Moore Square in the heart of downtown Raleigh is one of the spaces that holds fond memories for us since relocating here from Australia in 2004.  Wherever I travel I seek out green spaces, […]

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Mom and two daughters sitting in a booth in a restaurant

14 Apex Restaurants The Locals Love!

By Craig Makepeace / September 18, 2023

Apex has lots of popular locally owned restaurants, cafes, and breweries around town. And if you’re looking for Apex restaurants to try that the locals love, keep reading! We always enjoy exploring Apex, North Carolina. Just a 25-minute drive from downtown Raleigh brings you to the historic downtown area. Salem Street is lined with some […]

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Breakfast area in a home with table, lights, windows and pillows

Home Update: New Lights & Fans from Butler Lighting

By Craig Makepeace / September 11, 2023

We finally got to realize our dream of being homeowners in the Raleigh area in 2021. A dream that started in 2004 and has seen us navigate various business visas before being awarded Green Cards in 2020, allowing us to live here permanently and get home financing! If you’ve been following us for a while, […]

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Aerial view of city buildings and surrounding streets and trees.

Locals Guide To Downtown Raleigh (See, Eat, Drink, Shop)

By Craig Makepeace / September 4, 2023

Downtown Raleigh is our favorite of the seven areas that make up the municipality of Raleigh, NC. It’s where we most like to eat, drink, shop, play and explore. Needless to say, there are so many things to do in downtown Raleigh NC and this is our local’s guide on what we love to do! […]

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A view of a body of water surrounded by trees

25 + Things to Do in Raleigh in the Fall (see, eat, drink, play)

By Craig Makepeace / September 3, 2023

Happy Fall, ya’ll. If you are looking for things to do in Raleigh in the fall, we are here to help with lots of fun suggestions down below. Fall season is our favorite time of year as it brings with it awesome festivals and events, pumpkin flavored everything, tailgating at college football games, and of […]

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Lady in red dress drinking a cocktail

11 Popular Cocktail Bars in Raleigh (and one hidden gem)

By Craig Makepeace / August 31, 2023

There’s a growing list of excellent cocktail bars in Raleigh. And while we are still working our way through them all, below are a few of our favorites we like to frequent for their outstanding cocktails and vibes, either on a date night or drinks with friends! Whether you’re looking to sip on creative cocktails […]

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Inside a basketball arena with fans in the stand watching players on the court

Guide to Reynolds Coliseum (NC State University’s Iconic Venue)

By Craig Makepeace / August 22, 2023

A sporting highlight for me last year was sitting courtside at iconic Reynolds Coliseum for an NC State women’s basketball game. One of the many reasons I love living in Raleigh is the college sports scene, and it doesn’t get much better than attending a game here! NC State Wolfpack fans have been attending games, […]

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