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
How to Travel Safely to the Philippines – Travel Tips
Just to get it out there, Manila isn’t the Philippines. It’s where the main international airport is but I hope you don’t judge the country by its entrance (there are stories that they are spending […]
Read MoreWhat to Do in Washington DC (local’s tips)
Looking for advice on what to do in Washington DC? As part of our city guides series, we interviewed local DC resident Matt Long. Matt shares with us his insider tips on things to do in […]
Read MoreVisiting the Western Wall in Israel
By Liz from L’appel du Vide Jerusalem is a city divided. Claimed by four very distinct religious and cultural groups, the city is full of beauty, conflict and history. As you walk around the old […]
Read MoreHow to Survive a Working Holiday in Berlin, Germany
Visiting Germany for a working holiday, or to take part in a course, as I did, can be a very rewarding experience. Once you have got your head around the language and the local customs […]
Read More32 Travel Tips for a Cheaper and Deeper Experience
We’ve been traveling around the world on and off since 1997, including living in 5 countries for extended periods, so we’ve accumulated our fair share of travel tips along the way. Whilst our style of travel has evolved throughout […]
Read MoreA Unique Pedway Tour in Chicago for a different view
Chicago: the birthplace of the skyscraper. Gathered along the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan, steel framed buildings protrude from the lakefront, providing the spectacular views Chicago is famous for. Chicago’s skyline reveals an assorted display […]
Read More4 Awesome Experiences in South America To Rave About
Hola Amigos! My name is Anthony and I’m from TheTravelTart.com (say hi to me @TheTravelTart on Twitter). I write about the funny, offbeat, and weird aspects of world travel today. Caz and Craig have been […]
Read MoreFreakin Out – Experiencing Auckland’s SkyWalk
“OMG…I’m freaking out. They want me to jump off a 192 meter high building here in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m shit scared of heights!…Should I do it?” Jumbled up thoughts of fear and my trying to […]
Read MoreThe Kindness of Strangers in Eastern Europe
This is a guest post by Jade Johnston from Our Oyster I was born in the 80’s, and my first awareness of geopolitical issues began during the cold war. I lived in Canada, and the […]
Read MoreDoing A Working Holiday In Central or Eastern Europe
This is a guest post by Roy from Cruise Surfingz If you’ve ever done a working holiday in an English-speaking country, you’ve probably had loads of fun and perhaps even met people from your home […]
Read MoreOur Epic 4 Day Grand Canyon Trip – North & South Rim
Our four day Grand Canyon Vacation was one of many mini-vacations all rolled into one during our three month road trip across the USA. I have wanted to visit the Grand Canyon for as long […]
Read MoreThings to do in Moscow
Moscow is a city of vivid and expressive colors. From golden cathedral domes glinting in the evening sun, to the crimson towers of the Kremlin Wall looming over Red Square, this massive city makes for […]
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