Best Graceland tour package? Hmmm … that is a hard choice. Well, I am a Nashville native and I love to travel. I have been on business and pleasure trips in Memphis several times. One of my stops was Graceland, the getaway home for Elvis Presley and his family. Let us look at the options to see what fits you.
Best Graceland tour package will be determined by what you want to see. Graceland has so much to offer to get to know the life of the legendary musician, the King of Rock and Roll, the legendary Elvis Presley. It has been said it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States.
- Graceland Memphis Tn
- Is the Best Graceland Mansion Tour worth it?
- What is inside Graceland?
- A brief history of the Graceland Mansion.
- What is inside Graceland the entertainment complex?
- What is there to see around Graceland Entertainment complex?
- How many hours do you need in Graceland?
- Should I buy Graceland tickets in advance?
- Free Things to do in Graceland
- Is it worth it to stay in the Guest House in Graceland?
- Summarize the Best Graceland Tour Package
Graceland Memphis Tn
The address you will be looking for is 3717 Elvis Presley Boulevard Memphis Tn 38116. Whether you are traveling from Interstate 40 or Interstate 55 getting to the location is easy to access. If you happen to be flying into Memphis International Airport Graceland is just a few minute drive once you are wheels down.
Is the Best Graceland Mansion Tour worth it?
No matter what tour you choose while getting your tickets, the best Graceland tour package will include the mansion itself. I mean …. that is the #1 reason for learning about Elvis’ life to begin with .. right?!?!
As I said, the most popular tours include the “Graceland Mansion Tour,” which takes you through the main house, including the famous Jungle Room, the Trophy Building with Elvis’ awards, and the Meditation Garden, where you will see markers of some of his family members including his mom, Lisa Marie, and her son.
Not only will you get to walk in the same footsteps as Elvis himself once did, but you will also learn why he made the choices of decore that he did. Taking this little stroll through his history is very interesting and educational, making the Graceland Mansion Tour package worth it!!
As you tour through the mansion you will be wearing a small touchscreen tablet with headphones that provide audio-guided information into Elvis’ life, career, and interesting details about the decor. Just a heads up … When I visited, there is no video or live streaming allowed inside the mansion.
What is inside Graceland?
So touch on a few of the things you will find inside the mansion. It is very unique as it is beautiful.
Starting in the living room it has the famous white couches, stained glass accents, and a very nice grand piano.
The Dining room has places setting at the table, a huge hutch along the wall, and bookcase corners in the outside wall.
The kitchen is a unique combination of yellow and white with authentic 1970s appliances.
The Jungle Room is one of the aa hmmm more unique rooms that has a few pieces of live edge furniture, some tables with a tribal vibe, really thick green carpet, and lots of big leafy plants.
The trophy room is actually just outside the mansion in a different building. This building showcases Elvis’ vast collection of awards, including his Grammys, gold records, and movie memorabilia. Along with his awards and such there are lots of artifacts from his personal life such as pictures of family, furniture, and collectibles he had of that era.
Outside there is the Meditation Garden and swimming pool. In the Meditation garden, you will find the resting places of members of Elvis’ family.
A brief history of the Graceland Mansion.
In the spring of 1957, Elvis purchased Graceland and just over 13 acres for $100,000 at the young age of just 22 years old.
Graceland was originally owned by the Toof family and it had been part of the family for many generations. At one time there were about 500 acres of farmland. The farm was named after one of their female relatives, Grace. Grace’s niece, Ruth, and her husband Dr. Thomas Moore built the mansion.
Of course, when Elvis purchased the mansion In ‘57 he made lots of modifications to suit his young energetic lifestyle. He created a TV room, a billiards room, a racquetball court, and the meditation garden mentioned above. As anyone knows that has seen his live performances he loved the flashy lifestyle, this is also reflected throughout the mansion in several of the rooms.
After Elvis’ death, it remained in the possession of the Presley family. In 1982 it was opened up to the public to allow fans to tour the mansion and get an inside look at Elvis’ extravagant lifestyle.
So I feel it goes without saying that the best Graceland Tour package should definitely include the mansion itself. But hey, that’s just my opinion. You should go see for yourself if the Graceland Tour is worth it.
What is inside Graceland the entertainment complex?
The best Graceland Tour Package will also include the complex which is located across the street from the mansion. You will start your time at Graceland at the entertainment complex because this is where you get the tour tickets. If you get the Graceland Mansion tour you will gather with the others to get on a bus for the short ride across the street.
So, what is to be seen at the Graceland complex? Good question .. let us go over a few things that will enlighten you about the awesome life of the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley.
I love cars so I’ll start out by mentioning a few that is in his collection. Of course, there is his pink Cadillac, fine Rolls-Royces, a Stutz Blackhawk, his limo, Ford Thunderbirds (he was a big fan of the old T-birds), a 2-wheel drive International Scout, golf cart that he drove around Graceland, his sponsored drag race car, a restored tractor, and LOTS of motorcycles and 3 wheelers. Trust me, it is a fun collection to check out if you like cars.
The Entertainment Career Museum has LOTS of his stage costumes and jump suites. We are talking about very high walls to display them all! There are exhibits of his many guitars, movie posters, artifacts of his military career, all his albums in gold or platinum, and an area of more of his personal artifacts. Don’t miss the display of the many other musicians that are honored. If you are an avid Elvis fan, this part of the tour alone will make the best Graceland Tour package for you.
What is there to see around Graceland Entertainment complex?
To make sure you have your best Graceland tour package be sure to check out the great sites outside. There are some restaurants to choose from but most importantly you should check out his airplanes. He had two of them; The Lisa Marie and The Hound Dog II.
The Lisa Marie was obviously named after his daughter. It was a Convair 880 jet that he purchased in 1975 at the purchase price of approximately $250,000. Then of course he had to customize it to his liking, as anyone would. The interior had a conference room, a bar, a lounge area, and his private bedroom. The Lisa Marie served as Elvis’ private jet transporting him, his entourage, and his band to his various tour destinations.
The Hound Dog II is a Lockheed JetStar, a smaller and much more compact aircraft than the Lisa Marie. He purchased it after the Lisa Marie for his personal travels and short travels. The inside was customized as well for comfort and glamour.
Whatever you choose to be part of your best Graceland tour package, I do recommend this being one of the exhibits you check out. It is very interesting and honestly … kinda cool to be in the King of Rock and Rolls’ personal airplanes.
How many hours do you need in Graceland?
The amount of time needed at Graceland will depend on your level of interest, the size of the crowd, and what Graceland Tour package is best for you. On average expect to spend at least 3 hours exploring the mansion, the main complex, and the exhibits. If you are a reader like I am, you will need quite a bit more time. I enjoy reading all the little exhibit signs to learn as much as I can about whatever I am visiting.
Keep in mind the peak seasons will bring bigger crowds, which will obviously affect how much time it takes to see all the exhibits. Be sure to check the Graceland website for updates or recommendations for special events that may affect timing and the time needed to explore.
Need to check Graceland’s website? Click here to check it out.
Should I buy Graceland tickets in advance?
You absolutely should get tickets in advance if you can. On season peak times the line for the tickets can take a while to get through. So, if you pick out ahead of time the best Graceland Tour package that suits you, it can leave you with lots more time to learn about the King of Rock and Roll and see all the wonderful exhibits that he has earned.
Free Things to do in Graceland
Yes, there are actually free things to do in Graceland. If you get there between 7:30am and 8:30am you can walk up to the Meditation Garden to see the grave markers of Elvis, Lisa Marie, and other family members. Feel free to take pictures of the garden, the outside of the Graceland mansion, and the iconic gates at the end of the driveway. But you must be out before the daily tours begin.
After you check out the Meditation Garden just walk across the street to the entertainment complex and check out the The Wall of Honor, explore the gift shops of Elvis themes merch, and memorabilia, and the Elvis music is always playing.
Is it worth it to stay in the Guest House in Graceland?
The Guest House at Graceland is a luxury hotel located near Graceland in Memphis. It is an actual hotel that is owned by the same people who own Graceland which offers a unique experience for its guests.
It is located at 3600 Elvis Presley Boulevard just steps away from the Graceland Mansion. The hotel decor is all about Elvis! I know .. duh, it should :-). It blends modern amenities with 1960’s era furnishings giving the vibe of Graceland the mansion. Cool huh?!
Along with the old-school vibe, there are Elvis-themed accents and elements throughout as well. The hotel offers a blend of accommodations to suit different size groups and tastes. But all the suits include luxury bedding, flat-screened TVs, a mini-fridge, and free Wifi. Staying in an Elvis-themed hotel would just be icing on the cake for creating your best Graceland Tour package.
We got the sleeping options covered, what is there to do onsite? Well, there is a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, and a 460+ seat theater to host live performances and special events.
Gotta have some onsite dining options. There is Delta’s Kitchen which is the signature restaurant offering southern and international cuisine. EP’s Bar and Grill is a sports-themed restaurant with a chill casual environment. For the quick bites, there is the Lobby Lounge, and Shake, Rattle & Go.
I would guess it would go without saying they provide guests with a complimentary shuttle to and from the Graceland mansion and its attractions. You can also create accommodation packages that combine the Graceland attractions. Nice huh!!
Staying at the Guest House at Graceland provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Elvis Presley while enjoying luxurious accommodations and amenities. Whether you’re a devoted Elvis fan or just simply want a memorable stay near Graceland or simply passing through Memphis, the Guest House offers a distinctive experience in the heart of Memphis.
Do you want to book a room at The Guest House at Graceland? Click here to check current pricing.
Booking.comSummarize the Best Graceland Tour Package
I can’t tell you which would be the best Graceland Tour package, that will be determined by your time frame and how much you can afford to spend. No matter which package you choose, I really recommend getting at least the Graceland Mansion tour. You can then be able to say that you have been in the iconic home of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
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