Cheap things to do in Memphis Tennessee
When I saw that Elvis’s home the Graceland Mansion was in Memphis, I knew that it was a place I had to fit into my trip. My mum was a huge Elvis fan, I was brought up listening to Elvis and mum would go to Elvis tribute nights and we even played one of his songs at mums funeral (I just can’t help believing).
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I booked The Pilgrim House Hostel outside of the centre of Memphis in an up and coming area, there were buses to the centre and lots of bars and restaurants. The hostel is linked to the church next door and it was a great hostel.
Really good common areas, huge kitchen, very clean and the staff had information on how to get to all the places I wanted to go. It was a little weird getting a chore to perform each day but as it took 2 mins to do it was not a big issue.
There are lots of things to do in Memphis and you can get around even if you don’t have a car. The popular places to visit are Graceland, National Civil Rights Museum, Get the Hop on Hop Off or even take a riverboat to see the river.
Visit Graceland Memphis
My first day there, I took a bus from the hostel to Graceland, its easy to get to from anywhere in the city though you will probably need to change buses. When I got there I checked in and joined the queue to get on the mini bus to drive me across the road to the mansion.
As you get on the bus you get an Ipad which gives you a self guided tour around the mansion with further information if you want more. This was great it meant you could take as long as you wanted and didn’t have to keep with your original group. There was free wifi throughout the mansion and I was sending pics home showing them where I was and chatting to my sister about how much mum would of loved to have been there, and how I hoped she was visiting with me.
You get to tour the downstairs of his house, which hasn’t be touched since he died nearly 39 years ago, meaning that it might of looked very fashionable in the 1970’s but looked very dated to me!!
Also we got to see where Elvis is buried with his parents, grandmother & still born twin bother at his side. A lot of people were getting emotional at this point, though I had been emotional before thinking of mum.
Tip: If you only want to see the outside of Elvis’s mansion and his grave then every morning between 7.30am and 8.30am you are able to go and pay your respects to him for free.
It isn’t just his mansion you can visit, there are many things to do in Graceland. Across the road from the mansion at the visitors centre you also get to see his collection of cars and his 2 planes!! It’s a great day out and a must if you are in Memphis. You could probably do it all in 3 hours but I spent all day there, I loved it.
Experience some music in Levitt Shell
Levitt Shell amphitheater in Overton Park was the first place that Elvis performed a public show. Over 50 free shows are performed here every year so check it out before you visit to see if you too can experience some live music in overton park.
Walk across the Mississippi River on the Big River Crossing
In 2016 the longest pedestrian and bike bridge was opened crossing the Mississippi river in Memphis on the existing Harahan bridge that has been there since 1916. It is free to cross and is open from 6am until 10pm. After sunset there is a lightshow every hour until 10pm. It is great to see the views of the city from the bridge and on an evening to watch the bridge light up.
National Civil Rights Museum & The Lorraine Motel
The next day I went into the centre of Memphis and visited the National Civil Rights Museum & The Lorraine Motel the assassination site of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, it was a very informative museum and showed how segregated America was.
It was very difficult to see how such a short time ago people were treated so differently due to the colour of their skin. I believe we need museums like this though to educate people about what happened in the past so that we don’t make the same mistakes again.
Listen to some live music
All year you will find places in Memphis where live music is played outside and you can just stand and listen or have a bite to eat or a drink at one of the nearby stands. It’s normally a great atmosphere and a chance to have a little dance.
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Clare, I just love your blog!
Have been to Nashville but never Memphis — thanks for sharing about your trip.
I went to Nashville after Memphis, thats a great city too. Just listening to music all the time. Memphis is worth a visit too, if you are back there 🙂
Sounds like a lovely stop off!
I’ve never been here before. Just moved to the States, but hope to visit Nashville soon. Lovely pictures, btw!
Nashville is great fun too 🙂
Elvis lives. I love this gorgeous mix of rock, legend and kitsch.
TT
This day trip sounds awesome. Would love to visit and discover more about the icon Elvis Presley
Oh Clare, very jealous… what a place and somewhere I’ve been wanting to go for years – and not just for Graceland 😀
Amazing to see how they’ve preserved the Lorraine Hotel so well.
Great post! I would love to visit Memphis and Graceland!
I’ve been through Memphis and while I have visited the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine, I’ve never been to Graceland. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
I still have to visit Memphis and when I do, I’ll def be checking out Graceland and the Lorraine Motel (sadly, people of color in America continue to be discriminated upon).
Once in Memphis, I’ll definitely visit Elvis’s home! Very nice place of someone who done a lot for the whole world!
Mine in-laws would love Memphis and visiting Elvis’ home! Looks like such an awesome trip! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow the mansion looks incredible! I think the room with the pool table is my favorite. Elvis is such an icon, so cool that you got to visit this place! I’ve been wanting to make a trip down to TN for a while so hopefully I’ll go soon!
It’s crazy but I’ve been to Memphis several times without seeing Graceland. It’s always a business trip or a short layover, so I never made it … yet. But I have to, it’s such a cool part of Americana.
What a great experience to visit Elvis’ mansion! It is very well maintained, but like you said, it is quite old-fashioned. His pink car is very cute! I wonder if it is still working 😀
Sounds like a great trip. I would love to visit Memphis and Graceland. It’s hard to believe that Elvis died 39 years ago. My mum was a big fan of Elvis too and I can remember the day that he died, even although I was only 7 years old. The 70’s are my golden years – in my mind, and I would love all that 70’s decor. Too bad your mum didn’t get to visit – my mum would have loved it too! Good post. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely an interesting place to visit. The decor definitely seems out of place now but must have been the height of cool back then! The car is really cute 🙂
That’s awesome! Going to see the house of a celebrity who your mom was a fan of, is such a heartening thing to do!!!! I wasn’t born in Elvis era but he’s a timeless style icon!
I loved visiting Graceland – the house, the gardens, the costumes, the cars, the planes – everything has been kept in such great condition – and the room full of gold records was mind-blowing!
And I think it’s hard not to feel emotional in there – and that’s without having a connection to him through your mum! I’m sure she was with you though every step of the way like any true fan 🙂
I know nothing about music, but Elvis was someone I used to listen since I was little at my parents’ house. There was something magic about him and his music. I’m so glad you got to visit his house since it has such a great significance to you and your mum. Hope it was a special visit for you 🙂
My mum loves Elvis too! I grew up with his music (and a poster in her office) and she made a pilgrimage to Graceland too – it’s a lovely thing to do in your mum’s memory. I cannot believe he has his own planes – can you go in inside them?
Yes you got to see inside his planes, pretty impressive 🙂