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
Ireland Travel Tips (things to know before you go)
Living in Dublin for a year back in 2003 is one of our favorite travel memories. Being able to spend so long in Dublin gave us a great chance to get to know it and […]
Read MoreByron Bay Bluesfest in Pictures
We attended the 22nd Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest held over Easter. Bluesfest, held on a 120-hectare tea farm just outside of beautiful Byron Bay and 45 minutes south of the Gold Coast, remains one of […]
Read MoreTravel Photography Tips for Photographing People
Unfortunately, when it comes to travel photography, people are one of the most under-photographed subjects. The reason? Well, it is much easier to shoot a building, landscape or a piece of food laid out on the […]
Read MoreHow to Improve Your Travel Photography
When Craig and Caz approached me to put an article together on tips for improving travel photography, I have to say I was flattered. I love taking photos, and to be asked to share my […]
Read More31 Things We Have Never Told You
That’s Caz in the picture above, riding the mechanical bull at City Limits Saloon Bar in Raleigh, North Carolina. She loves to do crazy stuff like that! But unless you’ve grown up with her, travelled […]
Read MoreMichael Jordan and the UNC North Carolina Experience
Growing up as a kid in Australia, I was never a basketball fan, let alone a Michael Jordan fan. For me it was all about Rugby League and Cricket. We didn’t have cable TV back […]
Read More9 Places to See Before You Die
There are many great places to travel in the world and witness with your own eyes, but there are some which are almost required to see firsthand. These are places which almost everyone has seen […]
Read MoreHow We Asked Our Employers For 6 Weeks Off To Travel
This is a guest post from Christy at Ordinary Traveler This may sound normal for those of you living and working in Australia or Europe, but for the US, this is not as common as […]
Read MoreWhy I love Beirut
By Inka from Glamour Granny Travels “You are going where? “Have you packed your tin hat and your bullet proof vest?” These are just a few of the comments I heard last week when I […]
Read MoreSeeing A Different Side of South Africa
Stepping into the school’s hall, 100 faces turn towards us, 200 eyes staring openly. Kids start to giggle, hiding their mouths behind small palms. Some point at us and then whisper unknown words to their […]
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