Flowers and Firsts - A May 2010 PTR, 5/13 TR started! Link on pg 39

[SoonerGirl]

On Thursday we got up and packed our things to go home. We were planning on going to Graceland this morning before heading out of town, so we left our bags with bell services and went to visit Elvis. Of course, Don again had a conference call - this time it was at 9:30, thankfully this one was short and didn't delay us too much! First stop on our tour was the mansion itself.

We were told that Elvis bought it and the 13 acres it sits on when he was just 22 years old for just $100,000. I'm sure that was a big sum back then, but it seemed so cheap to me! We were allowed to take pictures inside, but no flash could be used, so some of these will be a little dark.

First was the formal living room and music room

Upstairs, where guests are not allowed

Dining room

Very dated kitchen!

In the next few rooms you can really see Elvis's sense of style, or lack there of!

Hang out area in the basement, where they would watch TV and listen to music

Pool room - isn't this just awful?!

And the famous Jungle room - that green shag carpet was even on the ceiling!

The kids really got a kick out of seeing all that 70's 'style'

Next we went outside to see the offices in the back, the horse stables and then the trophy room - this place was packed with awards and gold records!

Next we went into the racquetball building, the front part was used to hang out, and play games and music

The actual racquetball court has now been changed into a memorabilia room

The final stop on the Graceland grounds is a visit to the gravesites of Elvis and his parents

Continued in the next post.....

 

[SoonerGirl]

We then took a shuttle back across the street where we went to Don's favorite portion of the tour

I'm only including a handful of pictures, there were probably a dozen or more cars, plus motorcycles and small motorized vehicles in that building - Elvis obviously loved cars!

The famous pink Cadillac

We went through a couple more exhibits, then headed over to see his private jet

It would be nice to fly like this!

Finally, we stopped at the on site diner to grab some lunch, it was decorated like a 1950s soda shop - so cute!

Went back to the hotel to grab our bags, then headed for home! It was a fun couple of days and nice to get out of town and see something different!

 

[kschafer]

Your plans sound good - much better than mine, sitting in the house watching the snow fall.......

But it's March Madness time!!!! If you have to be stuck inside, at least you have quality B-ball to watch! (Might I recommend cheering Northern Iowa as they take on Kansas today Everyone loves and underdog right?)

Yikes, what a rough start to your mini-vacation! Looks like you salvaged it OK though. The zoo looks nice and I would love to visit the civil rights museum, I bet it's a pretty moving place to go. I've never been a big Elvis fan but Greg has said he wants to visit Graceland so I suspect we will end up there someday.

 

[KatMark]

I was always a huge Elvis fan but never thought of going to Graceland until I saw your pics. I think we might hav eto make this a summer trip. Thanks for sharing the great photos. What a nice getaway for you guys.

 

[SoonerGirl]

But it's March Madness time!!!! If you have to be stuck inside, at least you have quality B-ball to watch! (Might I recommend cheering Northern Iowa as they take on Kansas today Everyone loves and underdog right?)

I do love college basketball! Just 15 minutes until the games start for today! I was on Don's blackberry all the way home Thursday checking scores to the games. Funny you mentioned Northern Iowa. They had some fans on the local news last night (OKC is a host site for the first two rounds this year) and they were talking about the crazy weather we've had this week - cool, then warm, now snow! But, I'm sorry to say, I just can't root against Kansas, can't go against my school's conference! Unless they were playing Texas - then I could

Yikes, what a rough start to your mini-vacation! Looks like you salvaged it OK though. The zoo looks nice and I would love to visit the civil rights museum, I bet it's a pretty moving place to go. I've never been a big Elvis fan but Greg has said he wants to visit Graceland so I suspect we will end up there someday.

Yeah, we didn't have the best start that's for sure!

The Civil Rights Museum was very well presented. I never would have had that on my list of places to visit either if Jared hadn't asked about it - leave it to a 9 year old to educate his mother!

I've always liked Elvis, my mom was a big fan so it rubbed off. I remember when he died, I was only 8 years old, but I remember watching all the footage of it and crying with my mom. My kids knew he was a big deal, but had no idea how HUGE until they saw all his stuff - they were impressed!

I was always a huge Elvis fan but never thought of going to Graceland until I saw your pics. I think we might hav eto make this a summer trip. Thanks for sharing the great photos. What a nice getaway for you guys.

Graceland was great - but be prepared, it's a money pit! It was $106 for the 4 us to take the tour, not to mention the many gift shops and eateries. I figured it was a once in a lifetime thing though, so I didn't mind the expense. It was all very cool to see.

 

[ladybugmom]

Great pics!! It looks like ya'll had a great time!! The Disney Store you went to is only 10 minutes from my house! It's the only Disney Store in the area! I was actually there on Tuesday picking up my copy of The Princess and the Frog! And would you believe that I've lived in Memphis for 21 years and I've never been to the Civil Rights Museum or Graceland?! Our zoo is fabulous isn't it?! We love going!!

 

[kschafer]

I do love college basketball! Just 15 minutes until the games start for today! I was on Don's blackberry all the way home Thursday checking scores to the games. Funny you mentioned Northern Iowa. They had some fans on the local news last night (OKC is a host site for the first two rounds this year) and they were talking about the crazy weather we've had this week - cool, then warm, now snow! But, I'm sorry to say, I just can't root against Kansas, can't go against my school's conference! Unless they were playing Texas - then I could

UNI is on spring break this week and they probably assumed it would be warmer there. They should not be surprised by crazy weather...they live in Iowa!

It's funny how we feel about opponents, I'm a UNI fan first and ISU second, I do NOT like Iowa but when they are doing well, I do enjoy watching them. When they were undefeated in football this past season, I did find myself cheering for them just a little

 

[manntra]

What a fun trip you had!! You saw so many different kinds of animals!!! Love the baby giraffe! Must have been very young because I think they are 6 feet tall when they are born. (One of my Samantha Brown specials ingrained in my head )
Graceland looks like it was very worthwhile....I will have to show the pictures to my parents....they are both big Elvis fans. Wow that pool room is absolutely hideous!!! Could you imagine having a few drinks and then walking into that room?
Thanks for sharing your trip and pictures!!
6 weeks today!

Tracy

 

[stace208]

Wow, that was a little scary with Justin. I'm glad it turned out to be something minor and that he is feeling better.

The Memphis zoo looks wonderful! Might have to trek over there someday. I think both of my kids would like the Civil Rights museum too and I didn't even know about it!

Glad you had a good trip!

 

[Spartangirl]

Looks like you had a nice getaway!

I've never been to Memphis, so it was nice to "experience" a portion of it through your report/pictures! The zoo looks really nice........you got some great shots of the animals! Graceland looks like it was interesting.....that's a place that I never thought about visiting, but I was intrigued looking at your photos. That private jet definitely looks like the way to travel! Wow!!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Great pics!! It looks like ya'll had a great time!! The Disney Store you went to is only 10 minutes from my house! It's the only Disney Store in the area! I was actually there on Tuesday picking up my copy of The Princess and the Frog! And would you believe that I've lived in Memphis for 21 years and I've never been to the Civil Rights Museum or Graceland?! Our zoo is fabulous isn't it?! We love going!!

Oh my gosh, how funny! What time of day where you there? I sure hope we weren't at the mall at the same time and didn't even know it!

Isn't it strange how we can live right by things forever and never go see them? We have a beautiful memorial downtown from the Murrah building bombing in 1995 and I had never gone to see it until we had family in from out of town that wanted to go.

Yes, we really enjoyed the zoo, it was very nice!

UNI is on spring break this week and they probably assumed it would be warmer there. They should not be surprised by crazy weather...they live in Iowa!

It's funny how we feel about opponents, I'm a UNI fan first and ISU second, I do NOT like Iowa but when they are doing well, I do enjoy watching them. When they were undefeated in football this past season, I did find myself cheering for them just a little

Well congratulations are in order!!! What a wild game that was - I was completely in shock that Kansas never figured out a way to score, they were just out of sync the whole game.

What a fun trip you had!! You saw so many different kinds of animals!!! Love the baby giraffe! Must have been very young because I think they are 6 feet tall when they are born. (One of my Samantha Brown specials ingrained in my head )
Graceland looks like it was very worthwhile....I will have to show the pictures to my parents....they are both big Elvis fans. Wow that pool room is absolutely hideous!!! Could you imagine having a few drinks and then walking into that room?
Thanks for sharing your trip and pictures!!
6 weeks today!

Tracy

It was a fun little trip! The zoo was really nice, we enjoyed it. The baby giraffe was so cute, I'm sure they had a sign up telling when it was born, but I missed it.

Graceland was fun too, and yes, that pool room was awful! It looked like that fabric just threw up all over the place

Woo! Hoo! Just 6 more weeks!

Wow, that was a little scary with Justin. I'm glad it turned out to be something minor and that he is feeling better.

The Memphis zoo looks wonderful! Might have to trek over there someday. I think both of my kids would like the Civil Rights museum too and I didn't even know about it!

Glad you had a good trip!

I was a little nervous with Justin, I just didn't know what it was. All I could think about were the stories you here about young athletes collapsing and dying from heart conditions they never knew they had. Thankfully it was nothing serious at all.

I didn't know about the Civil Rights Museum there either, my 9 year old had to tell me about it!

Looks like you had a nice getaway!

I've never been to Memphis, so it was nice to "experience" a portion of it through your report/pictures! The zoo looks really nice........you got some great shots of the animals! Graceland looks like it was interesting.....that's a place that I never thought about visiting, but I was intrigued looking at your photos. That private jet definitely looks like the way to travel! Wow!!!

I was hoping to get to tour the Sun Studio and see Beale Street as well, but time didn't allow for it, maybe I'll get back there with Don sometime in future.

Graceland was interesting, I figured we couldn't go to Memphis and not visit Elvis! That jet was something else, even with the dated decor it looked awesome.

 

[Charleston Princess]

After Justin's scare and the rough start to your Memphis trip, it looks like you had a fabulous time! I thought it was really neat that the entrance of the Memphis Zoo was all Egyptian -- I guess because there was a Memphis in ancient Egypt? The zoo, itself, looks like a lot of fun! The boys always make me laugh with their photo poses.

The Civil Rights museum must have been a very moving experience. One day I would like for my two to see that.

Elvis' decorating style was cracking me up -- that pool room! How cool to see where he lived!

 

[jenniferkeala808]

soo sorry I didn't come over sooner! I just found your PTR!! lol! Well, i'm here, Now i'm going back to catch up!!

yay for CSR!! I was looking at that resort also!! Maybe next time. Wow! Great pics from your trip to Memphis! And great pics from Graceland! So beautiful! Can't wait to hear more of your plans!!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

What a fun little getaway you had! Poor Justin though, sounds painful! You took great pictures!! The green shag is too much! Hilarious.

 

[SoonerGirl]

After Justin's scare and the rough start to your Memphis trip, it looks like you had a fabulous time! I thought it was really neat that the entrance of the Memphis Zoo was all Egyptian -- I guess because there was a Memphis in ancient Egypt? The zoo, itself, looks like a lot of fun! The boys always make me laugh with their photo poses.

The Civil Rights museum must have been a very moving experience. One day I would like for my two to see that.

Elvis' decorating style was cracking me up -- that pool room! How cool to see where he lived!

I thought the Egyptian motif was interesting too, I noticed a sign that said why they went with that theme, but I got distracted and never went back to read it!

I was really glad that Jared suggested the museum, it was a good thing for them as well as Don and I to experience.

I couldn't believe that pool room, and what was even more amazing is that they made a point of saying that that room had been professionally decorated. Seriously?? I professional decorator suggested that the same loud fabric be drapped all over the walls, the ceiling AND the furniture????

soo sorry I didn't come over sooner! I just found your PTR!! lol! Well, i'm here, Now i'm going back to catch up!!

yay for CSR!! I was looking at that resort also!! Maybe next time. Wow! Great pics from your trip to Memphis! And great pics from Graceland! So beautiful! Can't wait to hear more of your plans!!

Hi Keala & welcome! Don't worry about being late, I'm really just getting started, and there are so many of us going that week it's hard to keep up!

What a fun little getaway you had! Poor Justin though, sounds painful! You took great pictures!! The green shag is too much! Hilarious.

We did have a good time. That green shag carpet was on the floor, the walls and the ceiling! Oh, the 70's - gotta love 'em!

 

[kcandbella]

Graceland looks really cool! The scary part is that I bet he hired a PROFESSIONAL to help decorate and make things look that ugly!!! The family pics turned out really cute!

 

[BippityBoo]

WOW! I am glad to see that your son is feeling better That must have been scary! Your pics from your trip look great! Elvis really did have odd taste! I am so happy your sons liked Princess and the Frog! It is even one of my husbands absolute favorites. I found him watching it alone on Saturday morning Can't wait to read more! OH--are you going to WDW this Christmastime?

 

[Happydog]

Memphis seems like a neat place to visit with Graceland being a major draw I am sure! Neat mini report!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Memphis looks like a great get away! Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[lovegrumpy]

Looks like you guys had fun. Some day I'll get to see Elvis house. My dh said next time we move. So I still have 2yrs.