Visiting Graceland

We specifically made a one day stop in Memphis, Tennessee on one of our road trips to visit Graceland. We made this decision because my husband is a big Elvis fan. He even shaved himself some side burns that morning to really get in the mood for the tour. We were not disappointed by the inclusion of this stop on our trip. Even I, an Elvis fan to a lesser degree, really enjoyed this tour and felt that it was worth it’s relatively high ticket price. If you are looking for an excellent excursion in Memphis, Tennessee or are in any way interested in the King of Rock and Roll you should consider this tour.

Booking

Purchasing tickets for the tour ahead of time is highly recommended. Even on a week day when we went, the tour was busy. We selected the tour that included his airplane but skipped the automobiles. Looking at the website for 2018 this currently costs around $45 per person (adult). Click Here to reach their site. To add even more magic, we stayed the night before in the Heartbreak Hotel located across the street. It was a fully Elvis Presley themed hotel name after his iconic song of the same name. It even had an Elvis Presley channel on every t.v. which was the perfect way to get us excited for our tour. Sadly they have since closed this hotel  to open the Guest House at Graceland which is onsite and I’m sure carries on a modern take on the Elvis theme. Set aside an entire morning or afternoon to get through the tour. More if you are including several of the extras on your tour.

Inside the Home

Walking into Elvis’s former home is like stepping back into the 1970’s.  Everything in there is gloriously tacky, colorful and shag carpeted. And because it is Elvis, luxurious and gaudy to the max. It’s definitely not how anyone, even a celebrity, would decorate their home now but that is what is so great about it. It is trapped in time and in the spirit of the King of rock and roll. Who else could pull off  having a jungle room?

Elvis Memorabilia

As one might expect there is a ton of Elvis memorabilia to see on the tour. This includes records, posters, awards, and personal items. Some of my favorites were the numerous iconic costumes on display; picture tons of glitzy pantsuits. I also enjoyed seeing Priscila’s veil from their wedding and memorabilia from his movies and time in the military. It was also fun going inside of his airplane which he named Lisa Marie after his only daughter (pictured above). Likely the one and only time we will be in a private plane, so we took a moment to enjoy it, even though it is somewhat dated, the luxury is still there.

Experience the King

You can feel Elvis’s spirit throughout his beloved home and museum. I think it is particularly because his home is exactly as he left it, designed it and loved it. It was was memorable to be able to honor and enjoy his memory and his everlasting legacy in the music industry. Elvis, along with his parents and grandmother are buried in the garden at Graceland along with a memorial stone for Elvis’s twin brother who was stillborn. It is the final portion of the tour and the perfect way to pay your respects after learning his history and impact and cherishing his memorabilia on the tour. Of course, there are those who believe he did not die at all in which case you can just use this moment to keep an eye out for the king himself to see if he is lingering around watching.

Graceland was one of my favorite attractions on our road trip. We set out time to include it and did not regret it.  We will continue to remember fondly the extensive Elvis Presley Memorabilia, the in depth look into his home and belongings and the opportunity to visit the final resting place of the King himself.

Interested in hearing more about our road trip? Click here.