We're going to Graceland this weekend! (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Farley]

Well, we decided (yes, we were brainwashed by the press... ) to head down to Graceland this weekend. We're really looking forward to checking out the Jungle room! And everything else of course. The Elvis hotel was sooooold out, so we got res. at the Adams Mark. Should be really nice. We're also going to check out the Drive-In theater (one of our new hobbies! Support your local Drive-In!) and it should be sweet. Other plans: Sun Records, (gotta go there and vibe the space!), Beale Street, hopefully some audio/HT showrooms, and just hanging out. Besides grabbing Elvis CD's and watching The Firm this week, any suggestions? We'd love to hear about anything that's fun to do there/where to eat, where to see bands, etc.

 

[Jarrod_L]

You have to go to Sun Studios...Personally, I enjoyed that about a thousand times more than Graceland. Could have been the enormous history of all the artists who've recorded there (not just Elvis), or that they play you some great music while they tell you some classic stories, but for some reason that place really moved me.
I was kinda/sorta disappointed w/ Graceland...seemed very impersonal they way they let you loose w/ a set of headphones and a Walkman as your tour guide. I tried my best to skip Elvis' grave in the backyard. Just made me really sad seeing it....
But don't get me wrong, I'm glad I got to see his house & hear all those great Elvis stories...
Don't forget to check out his personal jet "The Lisa Marie"...gold seatbelt buckles.

 

[Kevin Farley]

Jarrod, How long is the tour/what can you do at Sun? How much time did you spend there? I don't want to only set aside a little time and be disappointed.

 

[Jarrod_L]

It really isn't a tour so much....because the studio is really only one room (not counting the lobby). But seems like it may have been 30mins to an hour of hearing the stories & listening to the music. While in there, you can take pictures of various things around the studio. There is a resturant next door w/ a gift shop & whatnot for Sun Studios. You can buy old records, tee shirts, knick knacks, etc.
When I was there 2 1/2 years ago, they had the microphone Elvis used to record with while at Sun....you can pose for pics w/ it
(If I can remember when I get home from work, I'll try to post some of those pics)
If you're a music fan, the history of that place will blow you away....

 

[Robert_J]

I've only been in the Memphis area for two years but here's some places. The Gibson Guitar Factory and Rock 'n' Soul Museum. Tour Jerry Lee Lewis' ranch in Nesbit, MS (it's a few miles from my house). The casinos in Tunica, MS (20 miles south of Memphis). I checked the calendar and there's not much going on down there this weekend. You have already mentioned Beale Street and Sun Studios so here are some links. Finally, pick up a Memphis Flyer for a listing of who is playing at local clubs.
Food. Everyone goes to The Rendezvous for BBQ but I like Leonard's. Also since Memphis is the home of the world championship BBQ cook-off, there's a BBQ restaurant every few blocks. Peabody Place downtown has a few good restaurants.
Just try this link for everything Memphis.
-Robert

 

[Tim Hoover]

Be sure to check out the car museum at Graceland. That was my favorite part of the tour!

Also, you may want to bring a jacket when visiting Sun...

 

[Kevin Farley]

Why the jacket? Is it cold, or for fashion/decorum?

 

[Jeremy Illingworth]

The Jungle Room is a let down, not very jungly at all. Just very earth tone. But get the deluxe ticket (not just the house, but all the little side attractions like the car museum) and you will have a good time. I you camp I stayed at the Graceland KOA which is a five minute walk to Graceland. The best time to go is right after death week, which is the biggest and busiest time of year. The week after its deserted and so many left over death week items (I got a shot glass and matching Stein) are on clearance.

jeremy

 

[Tim Hoover]

Kevin, you'll need the jacket 'cause Sun is kept pretty chilly...

 

[Kevin Farley]

Well, we're back. Graceland and Sun Recording Studio were fantastic. Only complaint about Graceland (other than the pizza being burnt on the bottom ) was the fact that the main house felt rushed. Amazing house. And he had a great home theater! Complete with movie projector, screen, surround sound, 3 tvs, and this was from the 60's/70's! Imagine what he would have today I was really impressed with Elvis, and I've learned much respect for him. He was a very deep, inquisitive, generous, learned man. Besides being a great musician. The racquetball court/trophy room would intimidate Paul McCartney with the platinum records and awards. It was great to learn about all of his philanthropy, ajd the experience of the whole tour was inspiring.
Sun was so great; The tour guide was really cool, and the vibe being in that space where all the greats recorded was heavy. What a place. We got to touch the microphone too! I'm wanting to get the Sun story cd collection.
Here are some observations about the trip and Memphis:
1. Best damn radio station in the US: 103.5 Soul Classics in Memphis. Guess who's the DJ at night? ISSAC HAYES!!!!! We heard some great songs, some we've never heard before. 2. Tennessee has the best roads I've ever been on. Unreal smooth, nice curvature, and the drivers are leisurely and friendly. 3. Best fun for 2 bucks in Memphis: Mud Island monorail to the Mississippi river model. If you go there, you must check this out. This is a 5 block long scale accurate model of the Mississippi river, with water being pumped through it. If I was 10, I would have spent days playing around it. As it was, I had to be dragged away. It's an unbelievable project, that must have cost a lot to build. The stuff on Memphis we found barely mentions it, and it's really something to see. We thought about doing the $8.00 apiece river museum on Mud Island, but we were museumed out by that point!!! So fun, that model. I used to try to create little brooks in my back yard as a kid, and wow. Just really liked it. 4. Damn, I've missed Waffle House. Pecan pancakes rule. 5. We stayed at the Adams Mark, a lot of hotel for the money. If you stay there, try to get rooms x14 (where x is the floor number; higher=better.) It's got a good view, and isn't noisy. A great trip, great weather, and a great time. Thanks for all the advice! (Thank you, thank you very much). PS: We're getting the 68 comeback special on DVD. Should be great!

 

[Philip_cw_H]

Glad you had a good time.

Mud Island can be fun, but locals rarely go. I've been in Memphis for almost 10 years and only been once. The funniest thing about "The Firm" is that when Tom Cruise goes to Mud Island it's packed!

However, Downtown Memphis is so much nicer and there is so much more to do downtown now. The new baseball park is great, and the new NBA area promises to be as well. Both are close to Beale and the new Peabody Place complex. Issac Hayes has a restaurant on the second level there and can be seen there from time to time.

The Adam's Mark is nice & fairly convientant to anyplace in Memphis, In college I used to work at another hotel just down the street.

TN's roads are nice, just drive across the river into Arkansas and you'll notice a difference. Of course, our schools are terrible, but we don't have a state income tax. I guess you win some you lose some.

 

[DougRogers]

Well, I am originally from West Tennessee and my mom is from Germantown. I don't know what part of Memphis you found "leisurely and friendly" drivers. I have never found any of them in Memphis. Glad you liked it though. I have friends who live there that absolutely hate it. I have lived in TN my whole life and have never been to Graceland. Even had the oportunity to go several times but never went. I am glad you didn't bother with Tunica, it is a big let down. Anyway, the Waffle House does rule. Sorry I had no construtive input but the driver thing cracked me up.

Doug

 

[Jeff Pryor]

I like Tunica, though I don't gamble much, it's much bigger and better these days. As for the drivers around here, being on the streets seems to get more dangerous everyday, and this is just on my 9 mile commute to work in Germantown. I stay off the 240 loop. Only been to Graceland a few times and I've lived in this area most of my life. The neighborhood around it is not the most pleasant. Mud Island is okay, but the only time I go there is for a good concert.

 

[Kevin Farley]

For contrast, you guys need to drive in Chicago or Orange County, CA. In comparison, Memphis is driving heaven. We were amazed that everyone just seemed to flow along, nobody was fighting to get ahead, etc. Just seemed really relaxed.

 

[DaveBB]

If anyone is planning to go to Memphis I would greatly recommend staying at the Hampton Inn-Peabody Place. It's a nicer Hampton Inn (more upscale than their usual suburban brothers)that has a great location. It's right across the street from the Peabody Place Mall and right behind Beale street so that all you have to do is stumble a few feet back to your room.