The King's Mansion

I took a tour of Elvis Presley's home Graceland. It was VERY interesting! HaHaHa The outside and inside are VERY different. The outside is classic, conservative and regal, but as you progress inside, rooms get REAL TRIPPY. HaHaHa Let's just say, Elvis had an INTERESTING way of decorating! Fur walls & passageways, monkey statues, and jungle rooms (i guess the jungle room was his MAN CAVE HaHaHa) are nestled deep within the house! His mother's clothes (while he was alive and now) still hang in her bedroom closet. Lisa Marie's original swing set is still nestled in the backyard. Where they rode horses, is absolutely beautiful. The entire family (Elvis' grandmother, mother, father, twin brother who was born stillborn) are buried outside in a special area called The Meditation Garden. It's very peaceful and has a beautiful fountain. I couldn't get a better picture of the grave site, because some people just stood there forever. I didn't want to disturb them because I could tell they were serious Elvis fans. I mean, I loved Duran Duran back when (oh no you didn't Kim! LOL), but I don't see myself staring at their graves O_o. LOL But Elvis was loved. Overall, just to be in a place where Elvis walked, talked, ate and entertained felt both surreal and weird (it was his personal home). I just finished reading Priscilla Presley's book about her life with him and she talks about his MANY personalities. Well his home, definitely represents ALL those personalities! HaHaHa He purchased this home from a doctor for only $100,000! FYI: There's no parking near his mansion. You have to take a small tour bus from the hotel to get here (which is right across the street). They give you ear phones and as you go through each room, they talk about it's importance. I love learning about people. I love history.

Tips For Visiting Graceland:

1. Start Early - There are several lines to wait it in, so start early in the morning. There's a ticket line. A line for the tour bus that will bring you to Graceland (they'll give you a headset & ipad). Then they group you at Graceland before entering the house.

2. Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes - Comfortable and Non-Slip Shoes, because you'll be doing a lot of standing, climbing stairwells and walking. Cool clothes, because even in October Memphis is HOT, PLUS the house is NOT cold (it's mild). There are also sub-houses around the house that are part of Graceland.

3. Prepare for DARK and OUTDOOR photography - There are a lot of dark rooms (that don't get much light), so adjust the settings of your camera. Same for outdoor shots! Outside areas get a LOT of sun! I brought my Canon and cell phone. 

4. Protect yourself from the sun! - Remember the sunscreen! Wear a hat (if sensitive to the sun). Keep sunglasses available when standing outside. Hydrate yourself BEFORE going. Keep a bottle of water in your bag. Did I say, it get's HOT? LOL

5. Bring PATIENCE! Lines move S-L-O-W-L-Y! People stop and look at everything! There are some serious fans that visit. You can skip them, but I wouldn't advise disturbing them. HAHAHA If you don't plan on taking pictures, then you may want to go later in the evening.

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