CRAIG MAKEPEACE - FOUNDER
Craig Makepeace is a dynamic blogger, photographer, content creator, and entrepreneur, who is the co- 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, Y Travel Blog 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 Island and Outer Bank Tourism, 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 Chianti Towns: Driving The famous Italian Wine Region
Chianti is a famous wine-growing region in Tuscany Italy. Its rural location makes it an ideal destination to escape to if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the city. It’s one of the most beautiful settings that […]
Read More11 Exciting Things To Do In Cinque Terre, Italy
Cinque Terre is a Northwestern Italian region that offers crystal clear waters, laid-back coastal towns with picturesque, colorful homes, amazing hikes, and great food. It’s famous for its centuries-old villages that are surrounded by rugged […]
Read More15 Stunning Places to Visit in Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is a province in Italy that has mesmerized travelers for years. It’s famous for its vineyards and wineries, Roman history, renaissance architecture and artwork, delicious food, and friendly locals – what’s not to love? […]
Read More16 Amazing Things to Do in Florence, Italy (Insider’s tips)
Get our insider tips on the best things to do in Florence, as well as where to stay, eat, drink, shop, and explore.
Read More20 Exciting Things To Do In Edinburgh!
Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and is famous for its literary heritage, historic landmarks such as the famous Edinburgh castle, and scotch whiskey. It’s a buzzing city with something happening on any corner, and not […]
Read More22 of the Best Queensland Beaches to Set Foot On!
When it comes to finding the best beaches in Australia, you can’t miss the Queensland beaches. The Queensland coast stretches over 7,400 kilometres, and features over 1,700 beaches (not including the tropical island beaches off […]
Read More19 Ideas For What to Do in Tucson, Arizona!
Is a getaway to America’s Southwest calling you? Then you might be considering spending some time in Tucson Arizona, the second largest city in the state. Tucson is the gateway to the Sonoran Desert, and […]
Read More52 Stunning and Adventurous Things to Do in Queensland
Queensland is full of surprises. It’s known for its abundance of nature, pristine beaches, tropical islands, and being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. It’s a state we’ve resonated with as a holiday destination […]
Read More23 Experiences to Have In Ireland (for 1st time visitors)
For me, travel is about accumulating memories and moments, and if you don’t know what to do in Ireland to create those memorable Ireland travel experiences as a first-time visitor, I’m here to help! I […]
Read MoreGuide to Visiting Moreton Island!
Queensland does island weekend getaways better than most. Whether you want to stretch out on your sun lounge and have cocktails by the pool, or have sand blown in your face as you fly down […]
Read MoreEscape To Paradise On A Daydream Island Day Trip
Ahh the Whitsundays… it’s the tropical paradise we all dream about. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Australian city life for a day, then you might consider a Daydream Island day […]
Read MoreGuide To Visiting The Daintree Rainforest + Things To Do
The Daintree Rainforest is a world-heritage-listed rainforest in Tropical Far North Queensland. In fact, it’s the oldest rainforest in the world. We first visited The Daintree during our 18-month road trip around Australia with our […]
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