Ten Tips on How to Optimize the Visit of a Lifetime

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I am a huge fan of Elvis Presley. I won’t get into all of the reasons why (there are so many), but everything about Elvis speaks to me. For years, I have wanted to visit Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis, Tennessee. This summer, during Elvis Week, a good friend and I made the trip and it was even more amazing than I ever imagined it would be. I (reluctantly) left Graceland knowing I had to come back again and when I do, there are some things I will be sure to do again and some things I will do differently. If you’re lucky enough to get the chance to visit Graceland yourself, perhaps these suggestions would be of help in making your trip the best it can be:

1. Plan to spend more time at Graceland that you think you’ll need

I thought a three and a half hour tour and some time for shopping would be enough, but Graceland has so much to offer, so it certainly wasn’t. Next time I go, I will plan to spend two or even three days to see all of Graceland. Besides Elvis’ home, which is surreal – you can feel his presence as you walk through the house -across Elvis Presley Boulevard there is a 200,000 square foot complex of museum space where visitors can see everything related to The King and trust me, you’ll want to see it all. My friend and I actually drove back there the day after our tour to see more (and to shop – the gift shops have the most amazing keepsakes!). It still wasn’t enough. I truly didn’t want to leave. I have to go back!

2. Stay at the Guesthouse at Graceland

When I visited Graceland, I stayed at nice hotel in downtown Memphis, as I wanted to see Beale Street, the Peabody (the ducks are so cute!) and Sun Studio during my visit. I saw it all and it was very nice, but seeing everything only took a few hours. Next time, I plan to stay at the Graceland property because I want to spend as much time there as I can. It’s easy enough to take some time to visit downtown Memphis if you choose to (the drive is about 15 minutes) and then you can get back to Graceland where there is so much to do.

3. Go during Elvis week (mid August)

This just worked out for us without intending to make it happen. The week my friend was available to travel happened to be Elvis week and there is so much to do at Graceland during that time (see the above photo of the Elvis week pamphlet). We didn’t know how much would be going on, but had we known, we would have planned to attend some of the events, especially the candlelight vigil (Elvis died on August 16, 1977).

4. Eat at the restaurants on the property

I ate at Vernon’s smokehouse twice, but there are many other options. They offer gluten free selections and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. One of my meals was included with the VIP tour I took of Graceland. It inspired me to cook smilier meals when I returned home (see this link for the menu and recipes).

5. Take the Ultimate VIP Tour

When I booked the tour tickets, the Ultimate VIP tour was one of the only options left. It was expensive ($240), but it was worth every penny! As mentioned, it included lunch, but even more impressive is that it also included an opportunity to hold one of Elvis’ personal items. In my case, it was Elvis’ wallet. In it, Elvis kept a photo of himself with his then young daughter, Lisa Marie. As soon as the wallet was placed into my white-gloved hands (yes, I saved the gloves!) I started crying. It was such a moving experience. Moreover, our tour guide, Ken, was phenomenal and has been working at Graceland for many, many years. He offered such a wealth of information. If I go to Graceland again, I will be certain to either book the Ultimate VIP Tour again or the Archives UVIP Tour for $260.

6. Bring your phone charger with you on the tour

I took so many pictures on the tour that my fully charged phone battery died two thirds of the way through the three and a half-hour long tour. Fortunately, one of the employees at the ticket counter let me use her charger (the people who work at Graceland were, in my experience, some of the nicest people and they love Elvis as much as any fan). So, be sure to bring your charger with you. There are outlets in the ticket lobby where you can recharge your phone if need be.

7. Leave room in your luggage for souvenirs and be ready to shop

I knew I wanted to buy things at Graceland, but I was pleasantly surprised at all of the wonderful Elvis-related merchandise for sale (Elvis was the very first entertainer to sell merch, so I should have known he’d have the best to offer!). I wound up buying many items including some really cool tees, a nightgown (which I have worn every night since I got home – it’s 100% cotton!), a silver TCB necklace made by Elvis personal jeweler which I will never take off my neck, some magnets, a mug, a tote bag, a key chain and even some peanut better banana lip balm (I couldn’t resist!). By the time I was done, I was barely able to zip my carry-on bags closed. I only stopped shopping because I didn’t have any more room. I won’t make that mistake next time!

8. Go with an Elvis fan

Thankfully, my friend is also a fan of Elvis (though admittedly not as much as I am), but if you take this trip with someone who isn’t (can you imagine anyone disliking Elvis?) you will not be able to indulge in the experience as much as you might like. Go with someone who is enthusiastic about the experience so you can fully enjoy it.

9. Dress appropriately

When we were in Tennessee, the daytime temps reached 106F. It was dry, so it wasn’t as bad as it sounds, but the indoor spaces are heavily air conditioned and therefore quite chilly. I brought a button down, chambray shirt with me – thank Goodness, because I would have been very uncomfortable without it! I also made sure to wear something nice enough to be photographed in. You will get a chance to take many photos and have an opportunity to purchase a photo of yourself taken by a photographer at Graceland, so you want to look a bit put together.

10. Be in the moment

I was so excited to be at Graceland after wanting to visit for so long, and it was such an overwhelming experience, but while I was there I made sure to take moments to myself to soak it all in, from the sound of Elvis’ soulful vocals playing through the speakers in the shops to the feel of the shag carpet he used on the walls of his home and certainly when I visited his final resting place in the meditation garden. I’m not embarrassed to say it was very emotional day for me. I will always remember my visit to Graceland. It was one of the highlights of my travels and I will cherish it for the rest of my life. I truly hope I get to visit again, and soon!