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 Visiting The Daintree Rainforest: Things To Do [2026 Update]
The Daintree Rainforest is a world-heritage-listed rainforest in Tropical Far North Queensland. In fact, it’s the oldest rainforest in the world. Although many people pass by the Daintree as they travel from Cairns to Cape […]
Guide to Visiting Mulgumpin (Moreton Island): Queensland’s Best Kept Secret! [2026 Update]
Queensland does island weekend getaways better than most, and despite being home to roughly 1,950 of them, we found Mulgumpin, also known as Moreton Island, to be the region’s best-kept secret. Despite being close to […]
Achill Island, Ireland’s Largest Offshore Island: What to Do in A Day [2026 Update]
Even though I lived in Ireland for 12 months back in 2002-2003, which included a lot of weekend getaways and a full 2-week lap of Ireland, I’d never even heard of Achill Island in Ireland […]
The 15 Best things to do in Washington, DC for first timers [2026 Update]
Anyone visiting the United States of America cannot miss a chance to visit the Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C. It’s a popular tourist destination for those looking to see architectural wonders and explore some of the […]
2 Day Washington, D.C. Itinerary: The Best Way To Spend 48 Hours [2026 Update]
If you’re looking for the perfect weekend away, then spending two days in the Capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., is the perfect choice. The city is small enough that you can explore the […]
Guide to Whale Watching In Hervey Bay, Australia [2026 Update]
Hervey Bay, Queensland, is a spot that is well known as the whale-watching capital of Australia. The Hervey Bay whale watching season runs pretty much the same as the rest of Australia, from June to […]
16 Ideas for what to do in Hobart, Tasmania [2026 Update]
Wondering what to do in Hobart? We spent 6 days in Hobart, Australia’s second-oldest city and Tasmania’s capital city, and found there was so much to see and do. It’s not the biggest of cities […]
19 Insanely Cool Things To Do In Memphis with Kids [2026 Update]
Memphis is a city with a rich musical history and a culture unlike anywhere else in the United States. While most people know it as the home of Elvis, the Blues, and the birthplace of […]
The 7 Best National Parks in California You NEED To Visit [2026 Update]
When people think of California, they are usually thinking of the vibrancy of LA, the amazing beaches, the endless warm weather and golden sunrays, or the juicy oranges and sprawling vineyards, but rarely do they […]
8 Of The Best Gold Coast Playgrounds For Kids Of All Ages [2026 Update]
There’s no shortage of playgrounds on the Gold Coast for kids to let off steam on. Almost every beach and green space has a playground or some kind of play area to offer. The people […]
10 Beautiful Walks On The Gold Coast Not To Miss [2026 Update]
Ask me what my favourite way to explore a destination is, and I always say it’s walking. Especially in Goldie, as there are so many beautiful walks on the Gold Coast that allow you to […]
7 Fun Activities in Williamsburg To Do with Kids Besides History [2026 Update
Williamsburg is most well-known for its incredible live history experiences and attractions, making it one of the best travel destinations in the U.S for history buffs. But what about families? I don’t know about you, […]