GRACELAND | MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE June 14, 2019June 19, 2020 A rock ‘n’ roll landmark, millions of music lovers flock from all over the world to pay homage to the iconic Elvis Presley. Graceland has been expanded in the last few years to include, a whole new entertainment and exhibit complex, restaurants, shops and Elvis Presley’s Memphis. Learn more about the man, his family and his lavish lifestyle. Table of Contents ToggleBOOKING YOUR TRIPBEST TIME TO VISIT?LOCATIONOPENING HOURSTICKETSPARKINGACCOMMODATIONDININGNAPPY CHANGING FACILITIESTIPSUPON ARRIVALTHE GRACELAND MANSIONELVIS PRESLEY’S AIRPLANES BOOKING YOUR TRIP BEST TIME TO VISIT? Graceland is typically less busy in the afternoons, especially after 2:00 p.m, so you can minimise wait time by visiting then. If you want to spend the whole day there (and it is possible as there is so much to do) then get there as early as possible to avoid the queues. The last mansion tour of the day begins at 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., depending on the day of the week and time of year. Check our Hours of Operation for more information. We arrived first thing in the morning and were able to get on the first bus to Elvis’ house. LOCATION Situated on the outskirts of the city centre. The GPS address is 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard. A free shuttle operates by Sun Studio that has stops at Graceland, Sun Studio and the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. There is a taxi cab stand at Graceland located at the covered pavilion near the Graceland visitor parking lot. OPENING HOURS The Graceland Exhibition Centre is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and sometimes New Year’s Day. January 1st: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. January 2 – February 28 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m March 1 – May 26 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays:9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except:Sunday, May 26: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. May 27 – September 1 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except:Sunday, May 26: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. September 2 – October 31 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November 1 – December 1 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,except: Lighting Ceremony Day (November 21): 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thanksgiving Day (November 28): Graceland ClosedThanksgiving Weekend (November 29-30): 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. December 2 – December 31 | Daily: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except:Tuesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day): Graceland ClosedDecember 26 – December 29: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. December 30-31: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.No Walk-ups on Christmas Day. Free Walk-ups to the Meditation GardenDaily: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. TICKETS Save time by purchasing your tickets online. Click here to buy your tickets. If you select the option to have your tickets emailed to you, be sure to print your tickets or have them available on your smartphone to avoid having to wait in line to have your tickets reprinted. The VIP tour is offered daily with benefits including front-of-the-line mansion access, all-day pass, admission to the VIP exhibit and VIP lanyard. The Ultimate VIP Tour includes a meal at Vernon’s Smokehouse. There is a special period of time for free-admission walk-up visits to the Meditation Garden at Graceland, where the grave sites of Elvis and his family are located. Visitor walk-up times are daily from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. All guests must enter the gates by 8:30 a.m. to walk up, and guests must leave the mansion grounds before Graceland tours start. There are no walk-ups on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. GRACELAND: Tours and Tickets Memphis PARKING Graceland has a secured visitor car parking, costing $10USD. The GPS address is 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard. There are hundreds of car parks available if you have rented a car or are driving your own vehicle. Alternatively, you can catch a bus from downtown Memphis. ACCOMMODATION Stay at The Guest House at Graceland, rumour has it that when Elvis’ friends came to Memphis to visit, he would put them up to stay in this hotel. Due to the fact that it’s just a stones throw away from Graceland. As one of the largest hotels in Memphis, the 450-room resort is a reflection of Elvis’ personal style, with designs inspired by Graceland Mansion. The Guest House includes 20 stylish, specialty-themed suites, each with designs supervised by Priscilla Presley. Many of these suites are located on the top floor — known as “The Upstairs” — evocative of the upstairs at Graceland Mansion, which was the private living quarters for Elvis and his family. BOOK YOUR STAY: The Guest House at Graceland If you are on a road trip and driving an RV, there is an RV park and camp ground located within walking distance of Graceland. Prices range from $46USD to $55USD For more information, click here. Booking.com DINING There are two restaurants on site. Vernon’s Smokehouse serves the best Memphis BBQ and Gladys’ Diner specialises in classic American fare. Note that the Ultimate VIP Tour includes a meal at Vernon’s Smokehouse. If you want to try Elvis’ favorite Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich during your visit, be sure to stop by Gladys’ Diner. NAPPY CHANGING FACILITIES There are toilets and nappy change facilities situated in the Graceland Exhibition Centre. The toilets that are at the Graceland Mansion have no nappy change facilities. Elvis Presley’s Memphis has nappy change in the ladies toilets. TIPS Bring a sharpie. You can sign the famous Graceland wall to leave your mark. Get a free poster when you check in at Graceland on Facebook. Just show your check-in to Guest Services to receive your free poster.Visiting Graceland with children? Pick up a free kids activity book for each child at Guest Services upon arrival. A limited number of strollers are available at Guest Services. Use a baby carrier where possible. The interior of the Lisa Marie airplane is not stroller friendly. Graceland House is not stroller friendly, you will either have to carry your baby or use a baby carrier. Sirius XM Elvis Radio broadcasts live from Elvis Presley’s Memphis. Fans are encouraged to stop by and say hello, you may even end up on the radio!Get discounts on everything Elvis, including memorabilia, Graceland tickets and more, by becoming a Graceland Insider. UPON ARRIVAL The time you selected for your tour will be the time you will begin the Mansion tour portion of your visit. If for any reason, you arrive later than your scheduled tour time, you may take the tour any time after your reserved tour time during our regular operating hours on the same day. If you arrive earlier than your Mansion tour time and purchased a ticket tour option that includes the new Elvis Presley’s Memphis exhibit and entertainment complex, you may start your visit with the exhibits in this complex, including Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum and Presley Motors automobile museum. Booking.com A tour of the mansion takes about one to one and a half hours. The Elvis Experience tour, which includes the mansion, car museum and several other exhibits, takes anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours. Cameras are allowed, but no flash photography is permitted. Video cameras may not be taken inside the mansion or inside any gift shops or attractions. THE GRACELAND MANSION Once you have paid, you are shuffled into a room to watch a brief summary of Elvis’ greatest accomplishments. Then guided to a small bus that takes you to the actual Graceland. You are not allowed to take a pram/stroller into the house. And it must be collapsible for the bus. Luckily, we took the pram and the baby carrier. Less than 5 minutes and you are at Graceland. With headphones and an interactive iPad, you learn about each room as you are ushered through. You do not get to take your time, it is cramped and a new bus of tours arrives every 5 minutes. The rooms are so eccentric! From jungle themed, a snooker room, bright yellow bar and mirrored staircase – Elvis certainly had money to spend and a unique taste! [smartslider3 slider=11] Once out of the house, you are free to take your time and explore the many other buildings situated on the tranquil estate. Elvis built his own squash court, a shooting range, swimming pool and stables for his numerous horses. His father Vernon had an office, which has been turned into a small museum of home video footage, and original items from the house. The toilets do not have baby changing facilities. However, there is a flat surface at waist height that you can use. Benches are littered around the place should you need to feed (we fed George) and take a break. Graceland is such an iconic place and you need to arrive early if you want to avoid queues. Be prepared for small spaces and to fight off other tourists to get your pictures. Worth the money just to experience a taste of the incredible lifestyle that Elvis once lived. ELVIS PRESLEY’S AIRPLANES Elvis purchased a 1958 Convair 880 in April 1975 and named it Lisa Marie after his daughter. He spent more than $800,000 having the jet re-modeled. Climb aboard this customised jet that features a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom, as well as gold-plated seat belts, suede chairs, leather covered tables, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks and more. Then, take a peek inside Elvis’ smaller Lockheed Jet Star, customised by Elvis with a yellow and green interior that was primarily used for taking Elvis’ manager and his staff from city to city on his concert tours. BLOG TENNESSEE USA Travel
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