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
25 Best Indian Restaurants in Raleigh (+ Triangle Area) Voted For By Locals
Over the years, we’ve found some of the most memorable meals tucked into unassuming strip malls or tucked down quiet suburban streets, and so whenever we’re looking for new places to eat in Raleigh, we reach out to our Facebook community to discover unique finds. When we wanted to find the best Indian restaurants in
Get Wet and Go Wild at Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park
On a humid North Carolina day, I find few places more reliably refreshing and full of family fun than Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe. Tucked into Greensboro, this sprawling water park is just a 90-minute drive from Raleigh, and has been drawing families and thrill-seekers alike to its wave pools and water slides for decades. Since
Getting Around Raleigh: Your Guide To Public Transportation
For a capital city, Raleigh’s public transportation systems are working to get better. There’s not a lot about life in Raleigh we don’t like, but a lack of public transit by way of a tram or train is our biggest pet peeve. I wish we could tell you all about how to get around Raleigh
The Shelley Lake Park Loop Trail: A Short Walk Not To Miss
The Shelley Lake Park loop trail is one of our favorite short walks in North Raleigh, and is the perfect place for a gentle stroll on a summer’s morning, or to get some much-needed workout in. Being just 2 miles long, this loop trail is perfect for joggers, and also has workout stations and restrooms,
29 Top Raleigh Attractions And Landmarks Not To Miss
Raleigh is not known for its big tourist attractions and its appeal as a destination lies in the small-town charm, quaint local vibe, and unique attractions that set Raleigh apart from other cities in North Carolina. And although Raleigh is North Carolina’s capital city, some of Raleigh’s attractions are not well-known. That’s why we’ve written
15 Best Food Trucks in Raleigh as Voted for By LocalsÂ
We may be opening up a can of worms by writing about the best food trucks in Raleigh; to say we have a few is an understatement! More and more culinary artists are popping up all over the City of Oaks, and many of them don’t have a brick-and-mortar establishment. It’s just so typically Raleigh
Patio Season: 30 Favorite Places to Eat Outside in Raleigh
Patio season is here! We made it out of winter and with that comes beautiful spring weather, which is perfect for outdoor dining. Raleigh is the perfect city for alfresco dining – tables and chairs sit on leafy sidewalks, patios are adorned with string lights, and the lively beer gardens and garden terraces are as
15 Top Golf Courses in Raleigh (and the Triangle Area)
Raleigh is well known for government offices, technology, research labs, and its college campuses, but nestled between the buildings and warehouses are manicured green spaces turned into world-class fairways. Yep, Raleigh is also a popular golfing destination in North Carolina, and it’s easy to see why. I’ve played several courses here on humid summer mornings, and
Cheers to Brewgaloo Craft Beer Festival: Savor the Flavor of NC’s Best (April 24 + 25)
Beer lovers, grab your pint glasses and nominate your DD, it’s time for Brewgaloo Raleigh! If you love tasting local craft beers of all different styles, the Brewgaloo Craft Beer Festival in downtown Raleigh is the largest NC craft beer festival, and one of the biggest beer fests in the USA! Not only do you
Life Update: New Garage Door Installation by Ready To Roll Garage DoorsÂ
Life update. We recently had a new garage door installed at our home and we are thrilled with the outcome, and you can see the transformation below from the before and after photos. For months our old door had a buckled panel which made opening and closing it challenging, which I avoided, and parking our
Where to Shop in Raleigh: Best Shopping Malls and Streets
Over the years, I’ve watched Raleigh evolve from a quietly confident Southern capital into one of the Southeast’s most enticing retail destinations. Raleigh is a city with a dual identity; one part is innovative, tucked into the corner of the Research Triangle, and another that’s deeply rooted in traditions: woodworking, textiles, pottery, and agriculture have
Where to Watch March Madness (Classic NC State Bars)
I’m a huge college sports fan, and March Madness is probably my favorite sporting event of the year. Held annually since 1939, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball tournament has been battling colleges against each other in a 3-week long event that’s one of the most exciting in college basketball. And here in Raleigh, with
14 Fun Date Ideas for North Hills (Midtown Raleigh)
Babysitters are booked, outfits are cleaned, and you’re ready to head out to North Hills for a romantic date night. There’s just one problem, you’ve left it to last minute or you’ve run out of ideas for things to do. No problem, we’re here to help. We’ve had several date nights in North Hills and
Krispy Kreme Challenge: Raleigh’s Most Iconic (and Deliciously Ridiculous) Fun Run!
If you’ve lived in Raleigh for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard of the Krispy Kreme Challenge. And if you’ve attended North Carolina State University, you’ve probably been dared to do it. Let me tell you, it’s one of our personal favorite events in Raleigh we look forward to each year! Equal parts
Must-Try Raleigh Restaurants for 2026 (According to Locals)
We asked our followers on Facebook at the end of 2025 what were their favorite Raleigh restaurants for the year and after hundreds of comments and passionate recommendations, a few clear favorites rose to the top as suggestions for places to eat in 2026. From long-time Raleigh landmarks to newly opened restaurants, including a few
18 Laptop-Friendly Coffee Shops for Remote Workers in the Triangle
One thing we love about living in the Triangle region of North Carolina is how much this area hums with the quiet energy of innovation. With seemingly more start-ups and entrepreneurs than any other region, there’s nowhere more inspiring when you want to make big dreams a reality. Perhaps this is largely due to the
How To Survive a Winter Storm in Raleigh (A Calm, Slightly Skeptical Guide to Whatever Is Coming)
Okay Raleigh, the Virgo in me likes to be prepared. And growing up in Australia we didn’t have to worry about snow and ice storms. But I know you folks from the northeast like Buffalo are probably laughing and thinking, whatever dude, we play football in way worse than this! But like everything in life,
A First-Timer’s Guide To North Hills (Where to shop, eat, play, stay)
Allow me to introduce you to North Hills, one of the premier neighborhoods known for boutique shopping, upscale restaurants, cute cafes, sophisticated bars, wellness studios, and top-quality entertainment and events. It’s a place you’ll find us often, and it continues to evolve for the better! If you’ve recently moved to Raleigh or are visiting for