sheba1

We are visiting Memphis next year any tips or comments about Gracelands, our trip is very limited we have only two nights in the Heartbreak Hotel Thanks by the way greetings from Australia

Budman

Unless you are a real Elvis fan and Graceland is a must, I would skip it and spend the day visiting Mud Island.

SusanCS

Graceland is the tackiest place in the world, but if you had LOTS of time, it'd be worth a visit. I would certainly not recommend staying at the Heartbreak Hotel, which is in a very bad section of Memphis. If you're determined to stay in Memphis, stay downtown...there are lots of good options.

laurieb_nyny

I think you should visit Graceland. The tour is not that long. Try to book the first tour of the day so that you have time for the other wonderful attractions Memphis has to offer. I would also advise to stay elsewhere.

This was our one day itinerary in Memphis: Graceland (the shorter of the 2 tours), Peabody Hotel Duck March, Stax Recording Studio Museum, National Civil Rights Museum, Mud Island, great barbeque dinner, Beale Street. We had also planned to visit the Rock & Soul Museum but it was closed for renovations after storm damage at the time. Have fun!

iceeu2

Definitely do Graceland, but not The Heartbreak Hotel. Stay downtown..be at The Peabody in time to see the ducks coming or going...have ribs at The Rendevous...do a little of Beale Street. Say hello to my sister!

J_Correa

Another recommendation for the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, and Mud Island.

JJ5

Last spring we took a ride from Chicago to Biloxi, Mississippi and stopped overnight in Memphis. VERY CLOSE to Graceland- walking distance.It was a total fluke as I had not planned to locate Graceland or to visit. We arrived in the dark and had driven straight from Chicago and were very tired. I can't remember name of the hotel, not motel, we stayed at. It was one of the chains.The next morning we did notice that the hotel had electrical fencing and topped barb-wire type of set up all around the parking lot- that we didn't notice as it was set back and it had been dark. What does that tell you! The hotel itself was pretty nice. We could not find any place that sold a breakfast early- and there were so many fried chicken joints, and fried fish joints that we could not even locate a sit down regular restaurant of any kind. We went to Graceland as long as we were there, but then left for another part of Memphis to get some food and drive onwards. My brother really got a laugh off of my story, because he had escorted a prisoner from Chicago by airplane almost directly next to where I stayed that night.

This is one time we didn't plan stops and left for this trip on the spur of the moment, something I rarely do. Many people have since told me all the other great parts of Memphis to visit. I will next time we drive South.

Shea

The other posters are correct, stay downtown near the entrance to Mud Island and the Peabody Hotel. Get the times for the Duck Parade & get there a little early, it gets crowded. We did Graceland & enjoyed it. Of course we are big Elvis fans. If you are an Elvis fan, one thing you have got to do is go to Sun Studios where it all started - very interesting. If you are into history, the Lorraine Motel is where Martin Luther King was assassinated. You must either rent a vehicle or take a tour to both Graceland & Sun Studio. I suggest a tour-forget the car. There is a trolley that runs in the downtown area & it's a must to take the trip on it. It travels from downtown to Beale Street & near the Lorraine Motel, & along the Mississippi River. It's so easy to get around downtown & there is much to do downtown. DON'T STAY AT THE HEARTBREAK HOTEL! There is a restaurant near the Beale Street entertainment area that is very well known for its barbecue dry ribs. I can't remember the name of the place but it is down an alley near Beale Street & is an attraction in itself. The name will probably come to me after I sent this post. Ask a local & they will guide you in the right direction - everyone knows about the place. We were surprised with Memphis as there was much more to it then we thought. We had a great time there. You will too.

Shea

Sheba, I forgot to add, my wife & I traveled to Australia in March & April of 2002 for 6 weeks to Perth, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Adelaide, Sydney, Hobart, Cairns, Melbourne, & Port Douglas. It was a trip of a lifetime. Where do you guys live in Australia? You folks over there in Australia are the greatest. Greetings from Alaska.

TC

Graceland was worth the effort if you are a fan. Its a lot smaller and certainly not a "mansion" by any stretch of the imagination. DO stay downtown. The Madison Hotel is a great boutique style in a good location. SKIP The Rendevouz for ribs. It is such a tourist trap. We went in, sat down, looked at the menu, spied the food going by on trays, and LEFT. You'll get better ribs and half the price at Blues City Cafe on Beale Street.

SusanCS

Shea - the BBQ place you're thinking of is the Rendezvous; it's in an alley across the street from the Peabody.

Patrick

Every time I scroll past this thread I shutter. Sheba, I'm so sorry you used the plural -- Gracelands. It makes me think there might actually be more than one of them. Horrors!!! One is more than enough.

laurieb_nyny

I forgot to mention the name of the BBQ restaurant we went to: Jim Neeleys Interstate BBQ. Incredible!!!! & not touristy (mostly locals).

Also, one of the above posters mentions the Lorraine Motel. That is also the home of the National Civil Rights Museum I had mentioned earlier.

sfamylou

We loved Memphis and Graceland. I would not skip this. I went as a child when he was alive and we waited by the gates for him to show up or leave but he didn't, and it was fun to go on the tour and even shop at the gift stores. I wouldn't stay at the Heartbreak Hotel. We stayed at the Hampton Inn by Beale Street and had a balcony and it was fantastic. We loved watching the ducks and having a drink at the Peabody. Thought Rendez Vous was touristy. We liked Corky's and also Blues City or some place on the corner of Beale Street for ribs. We also really enjoyed Hot Buttered Soul, Isaac Hayes supper club. Have fun!!

Clifton

Hi Sheba! Welcome to Memphis.

So many good answers here for a 2 day stop that I can only agree with most of the suggestions. I live here, so I can't help much with hotels. I will agree that downtown will give you many more options for things to do and places to eat. The area around Graceland isn't the greatest area, but there are worse. The Graceland compound and the area across the street housing the shops, cafe and Elvis's plane are fine. And if you're an Elvis fan, you already know about things like pink cadillacs, PB & 'naner sandwiches and all things of questionable taste.

I will second the nomination for Neely's. No tourists there (yet).

I'd also like to hear where you're from. My wife's from Melbourne, in the US a little over 5 years now. Been to Oz many times and love it there.

stormygirl

Hi Sheba

You will have a great time in Memphis. I really liked Graceland but it's quite outside of Memphis. I would stay in town and just drive out for 1/2 a day.

My report from my trip this last spring is here:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...ours+the+south

cd

Just want to second, third, etc.... not to stay at the Heartbreak Hotel but to choose a hotel downtown and walk Beale Street.