Top Things You Need To Know About Graceland Before Going

You Can Get Married There!

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If you're a fan of the king, and an Elvis impersonator at Vegas doesn't quite cut it for your impending nuptials, did you know you can actually get married at Graceland? The Graceland Wedding Chapel in the Woods is open to the public for marriages - and who wouldn't want their wedding photos with the Graceland mansion in the back?

Don't Forget To Sign The Wall

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Usually you'd be told off for trying to graffiti on an important piece of history, especially taking a Sharpie to Elvis Presley's house, but you're actually encouraged to sign the wall during your visit! Make your mark on the wall by writing your personal message. Elvis himself even asked fans to do this when he was still living there.

You Can Take Your Picture With Elvis

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Okay, so not the real Elvis unfortunately... but this is probably the best you're going to get, and at his own mansion home, too. There are interactive things there (think cardboard cut out so it looks like it's Elvis standing right next to you) so you can grab a cheeky selfie with the King!

Make Sure To Take A Selfie

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Speaking of selfies - you're going to want to take one at any spot you can in Graceland, because photography is allowed (just not flash photography around some of the inside rooms). You might want to take a selfie in some of the most famous spots in Graceland, like the Jungle Room!

You Can Go On Elvis Radio, Live From Graceland!

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SiriusXM has it's very own dedicated Elvis Radio, focusing only on the King and his hits! And better yet, it broadcasts live from the Graceland mansion. It's not just for enjoying while you're there, though - the DJs are always interacting with visitors and giving them the chance to sit in the DJ booth, as well as hosting trivia contests in the Graceland Plaza.

You Can See Special Artifacts If You Go VIP

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There are lots of historical items and artifacts from both Elvis's life and from the Graceland mansion, and while a lot of them are openly on display at the Graceland museum, there are certain special artifacts from the collection you'll only get to see if you go VIP!

You Can Even Sing Or Play In A Band At Graceland

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If you're part of a choir or a band, did you know that you can actually play/sing at Graceland? Imagine telling everyone you played a gig at Elvis's mansion! Student groups are encouraged to perform in the Graceland Plaza, which faces the mansion and can be enjoyed by all visitors.

You Might Get A Free Elvis Poster If You Check In On Social Media

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If you have one tiny bit of wall that isn't already covered with Elvis posters, then why not complete your collection - for free? You might be able to grab a free Elvis poster if you check in on sites like Facebook and Yelp when you get there. The offer originally ran a few years ago, but it's worth checking before you go!

You Can Drink From The Same Water Fountain The King Did!

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Inside the Racquetball Building of the mansion, there's a water fountain that you might have thought was a new addition or replaced since Elvis's time - but nope, that's the original one! Elvis himself drank water from that very fountain, so you'll want to drink water from it too. One for the bucket list!

Don't Forget The Homemade Fudge

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You'll want to take a souvenir with you from Graceland, of course - and we don't mean all those selfies you've been snapping. Graceland Plaza gives the opportunity to fuel your visit around the huge mansion by offering a great menu, which includes Southern delicacies like homemade fudge.

You Might See A Celebrity

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Sure, Elvis was a celeb to all of us regular folks, but he was also a celebrity to many other celebs, too! Many famous people would have been huge fans of his music and life, and you never really know who's going to walk through those Graceland doors to have a tour...

You Can Do Morning Or Evening Walk-Ups To Pay Your Respects

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The Presley family, as we know, has been laid to rest right there at Graceland, and your visit can include paying your respects, as well as guided walk-up tours both morning and in the evening to the Meditation Garden so that you can take some time out to have that quiet moment.

Get A Smashed Penny Memento!

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No matter which tourist attraction you go to in the world, you have to get a smashed penny memento - it's just one of the best and easiest souvenirs! So of course you can get one at Graceland (and you should) - and yours will have Elvis's name printed on it for the perfect memento.

There's Also A Harley Davidson Shop

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Any fan of Elvis knows that he was a huge motorcycle fan himself, and even had his own Harley. Not only are bikers welcome at Graceland to share in that motor appreciation, but there's also a Harley Davidson store you can visit when you go to the mansion - so another thing to add to your list!

If You're Only Going To Go Once, Go At Christmas

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Elvis was really big at Christmas - and nothing is more special than being able to go all out with huge mansion decorations! Even though Elvis is no longer around to do the decorating, the team at Graceland still go all out for festive decorations - so if you can only go once, Christmas is such a special time to visit Graceland and see the light up ceremony.

You can even step aboard his plane

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Elvis would get around in true style when he was touring the world for his music career, and he had luxury private planes to do the job. When you visit Graceland, you don't just get to see what he drove around on land, but you also have the opportunity to step on board one of his luxury airplanes he had customized!

You Can Stay The Night

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Okay, so you can't sleep in Elvis's very own bedroom (or his bed for that matter) but if you're a die hard fan, you have the opportunity to actually stay the night at the Graceland estate by booking into the Graceland Guest House. Think about waking up to that glorious mansion!

Give Yourself Enough Time To Look Around

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How long you'll need to tour Graceland entirely depends on the tour you've chosen, but at a minimum you'll need around an hour and a half, but some full tours will take maybe three and a half hours max. Whatever you're planning, make sure you give yourself enough time to take it all in - because you won't want to leave early!

There's An iPad Tour Option

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If you want a really detailed guided tour to know what you're looking at - like that important tidbit about the fountain in the racquetball building being the original Elvis used - you can actually get an iPad tour for while you're there, which you can bring your own headphones for.

Weekday Afternoons Are Your Best Bet

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We know the King was popular, and we know Graceland remains one of the most visited buildings in the world to this day, but that also means crowds you might not want to battle with in the Memphis heat! If you're looking for the best possible time to go for a quieter experience, weekday afternoons are your best bet.