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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

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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44 comments

  1. I would LOVE to visit this mansion!! my grandma is a huge Elvis fan, so I'd listen to his music whenever I went to her house. You are so lucky :)
    www.lettersimpromptu.blogspot.com

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  2. Wow ,the Rooms are wonderful! Thank you for sharing this magic Photos!

    kisses :)

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  3. Kim, must have been amazing visiting it. I didnt expect in that way to be honest, is so gorgeous beyond the word Also, I dont know their graves were moved there, is impressive to see them from your pics, they turned out very well though all the people. Kisses xo

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  4. Ohh How fab. I loved Elvis (before my time but still the King) and I would like to see where he lived. You captured it so well, and it's what I had imagined - ott - just like him. Great tips too. Happy day to you Kim,
    Ax
    PS: Also a huge DuranDuran fan :-)

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  5. Oh dear, your blog is quite amazing!
    So beautiful and interesting!
    I would really love, if we could follow each other on BL and GFC! Please let me know in a comment on my blog :)
    xoxo Colli
    My blog - ToBeYOUtiful

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  6. Wow, his house is right his style! But it's beautiful! Thanks for the tip, especially for the photography tips!

    sunandsany

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  7. What a gorgeous home, would be so cool to walk through there and see all those things. The garden was beautiful. Hope to see it one day, am glad you enjoyed it!! xx

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  8. You to funny giving comparison of music lil kim great pictures of Graceland and is the most popular place to visit.

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  9. This would be such an interesting place to visit! You got some great shots Kim! :)


    Away From The Blue

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  10. Oh wow! Looking at ur awesome pics, it does seem like it's different houses you're seeing coz there's really no cohesion in the decor themes! Hehe...I do think it's very Elvis, eh?
    Thanks for sharing these, Kim. It's like I've been there vicariously through you:)

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  11. It's so amazing they were able to preserve the house just as it was, and he definitely had some eclectic tastes! What a trip!
    http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/

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  12. It must've been such a surreal experience. I get those thoughts too when I tour personal homes or mansions... people actually lived there! It's nice to see that there are still folks who keep his memory and legacy alive.

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  13. Seeing this mansion must be such an incredible experience in person! I'm not surprised there are such lines for the tours.

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  14. This is so cool you went to Graceland Kim and we wanted to go there last Spring because I would have loved to see Elvis's house. I didn't even realize there was a tour and it's so interesting to see the inside of his house and the decor. Thank you for sharing and you got some great shots despite the light. Your tips will come in very handy when I go there one day and I can see what you mean about the serious fans...my mom is one of them so I can see why the line would go slow. :) Thanks for sharing!

    xoDale
    www.savvyspice.com

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  15. OMG I can't wait to go here some day. Seriously.

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  16. Wonderful post! I've never been to Graceland, but have been to Tennessee, and want to see this. I love the chandelier. Good tips indeed, Kim. Thanks for sharing. :)
    Frightfully Fabulous

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  17. Did you take these amazing pictures?? I love the bedroom. The rest is very very peculiar, but cute!
    Baci,
    Coco et La vie en rose by Valeria Arizzi

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  18. Great pictures! I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but I think it would be nice to visit Graceland. Can you imagine what it must have been like to grow up in such a place?!

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  19. OMG My mom adores Elvis! I am pretty sure that she would have been in her element here. I see what you mean about the house getting trippier as you go! I love it though, I love seeing things you don't really expect in nice homes.

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  20. seems like an interesting place to visit! Elvis was cetainly an interesting person...and I can imagine that at least a bit of his charisma can still be felt in his home.

    I'm not exactly a die hard Elvis fan but I do like his music. Thank you for this virtual tour<3

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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  21. Hahaha, your posts always crack me up. I can totally see us hanging out 'cause i know you are fun.

    These photos do tell and make you feel like you were there touring too. Great job with the shots. Wow, his mom's clothes are still there too? I would have loved to see what they looked like. That is remarkable. I see all the old appliances and furniture. So cool. Thanks for sharing.

    http://www.thefashionstirfry.com

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  22. Wow, you're right! The juxtaposition of the trippy inside vs the classic outside is interesting. And wow check out that old school kitchen! -Side note: house and condo shopping for the first home I will own, I am looking out for very old kitchens bc I want to have a remodel project and my dream would be to find an outdated kitchen like this to give a major facelift to so when I saw this photo I started imagining gutting that kitchen and adding my dream finishes :-D

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  23. This is so cool! I hear visiting Graceland is an experience like no other! You took a lot of great pictures, as always!

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  24. Wow,those pictures are so stunning
    Love the decor

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  25. I hope to be able to do this someday!

    http://lamentinglizzie.blogspot.com

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  26. Great pictures, thanks for sharing! He sure is an interesting fella; I'd love to visit some day!

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  27. OMG! Just WOW! SPEECHLESS....

    missymayification.blogspot.co.uk

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  28. oh, wow...look at that kitchen!!! thanks for sharing these, kim!

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  29. Oh how exciting! Love your photos really makes me feel like I am there. My friends went there and go engaged in the garden!

    Allie of ALLIE NYC
    allienyc.com

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  30. Beautiful pics., Kim. I have a friend in Memphis--so, someday.... Duran, Duran--me as well (LOL!). I'm definitely dating my 50-something self! :) T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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  31. Interesting tour KIm. Graceland is for sure historical and could be quite an emotional tour for the Elvis fans. His house seems very homey in his own way.

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  32. Excellent photos, i would love to visit his home someday, love his music, his charisma and everything about Elvis! :)

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  33. Wow. Kim. Thank-you for this tour! I've always imagined that Elvis' home would be odd but this is beyond what I could have imagined - and also a wonderfully fun trip back in time.
    xox,
    Cee

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  34. Ooooh Kim, I would love to visit this place one day! He sure had eccentric taste. Thanks for sharing.

    xo Jo

    http://www.whiterosesandcoffee.com/

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  35. I've always wanted to see what it looks like inside.
    www.findingrosie.com

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  36. What an interesting contrast indeed! I bet $100,000 was quite a sum those days, but nothing to Elvis back then! I love the family mementos here as well (priscilla was gorgeous and her granddaughter looks just like her!)

    xoxo,
    little luxury list formerly Chic 'n Cheap Living

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  37. The house looks amazing! Even with some wacky touches, it looks so cozy. The Meditation Garden is beautiful although I'm not sure I would want anyone buried on my property. :)

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  38. These pics are amazing, Kim! Baby sis has visited. No doubt I will someday (hopefully) do the same. :) T. http://tickledpinkwoman.blogspot.com

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  39. I have always wanted to visit Graceland.
    I 've gotta say I want to go even more now.
    Its amazing how it all seems like time stood still…the kitchen, the rooms, the poolside. It looks like he went out to get beer and never came back.
    Thank you for sharing Kim!

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  40. This looks like such an incredible experience Kim thanks for the tips!

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  41. Wow that place looks so amazing!!! I love all the decorations and the crystal chandelier is so beautiful. I'm so happy you got to see all this amazing stuff Kim!

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  42. What a treasured experience!!! I would love to visit his mansion too. Thank you for taking us on this virtual tour! He does have a very odd taste for home decor.

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  43. I'm starting to think you're a huge Elvis fan. That's so cool! :)

    http://ahleessa4realz.blogspot.com/

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