graceland

hi all,i want to go from london to vegas for 2 weeks but my friend would like to spend 2 nights in new york and she wants to see graceland.how easy/hard would this be logistically?any help appreciated

Since you're likely going to stop on the American east coast while heading to Vegas anyway, adding NYC and then Memphis won't add much travel time. Memphis is half the way between NYC and Vegas. In New York, use mass transit and taxi service. In Memphis, rent a car.

7 hours from London to NYC, 3 hours to Memphis, 3 hours to Vegas.

DonDiego recommends while in Memphis cardfish and the lady friend spend an evening o'er on Beale Street to get a feel for The Blues, as well as some Southern Food. Touristy ? Of course, . . . but with a little imagination one can convince oneself one is in a dive bar listening' to B. B. King or Memphis Minnie, . . . and, just in case it starts to get too authentic, . . . there's a substantial police presence in the area; Memphis apparently values its tourists.

Or maybe a visit to the museum on Mud Island. Not !

Skip Graceland. There's plenty of Elvis impersonators and good BBQ in Vegas. Graceland is pretty underwhelming IMO. Its worth seeing if you are driving through Memphis but I wouldn't book a flight just to see it.

It would depend on how much an Elvis fan people are.

Memphis BBQ is very hot and spicy

I was at Graceland last April for the 1st time and I loved it! Each person is given an Ipad and headphones and there is content presented as one goes from room to room in the home. You cannot go upstairs, but it is cool to see how a guy with a boatload of money would decorate a house in the 1970's. This is the American equivalent to a European castle with people who actually lived in it in the last 50 years.

I agree with DD on Beale Street - a 1950's rock and roll version of Nashville. Blues City Café is definitely worth a trip for a good Memphis meal!

thank you for replies and tips.beale street sounds great.wont be hiring a car though as i dont think i can handle driving on the opposite side of the road that im used to.i tried it in france and the roundabouts were a nightmare
lol

How will you get around? Plan on spending a fortune on taxi rides.

BTW, eat BBQ at the Rendezvous in Memphis. The best ribs anywhere in the US. They come on the dry side (which I prefer), but you can order them wet.

Beale Street would be of far better entertainment value, depending on your love for Elvis. There are way too many good BBQ and Blues venues to even mention. All within the walking distance of a very few blocks. About a mile or two away is the Sun Studio's tour, a must see for any early rock 'n roll enthusiast. The R&B museum is only a half block away. The security is excellent, tourists are well protected. Lot's of incredible music history in this little area. I enjoyed Graceland, but enjoyed Beale Street even more. Can find good live blues and R&B music almost any day of the week. Can't even begin to describe the food options. (try a catfish po'-boy for lunch). Get a room for a night or two at the Peabody, about a block away from Beale Street. Visit BBKing's, Rum Boogie Cafe, Silky Sullivan's, ride the trolley, take a carriage ride...all this in the same 3 or 4 block area. 30 miles south a little gambling town called Tunica with okay hotels/casinos (but I would save my gambling stash for vegas). Without a vehicle, it'll cost you to get from the airport to Beale Street. The positive side is to see a lot of music/entertainment history in Memphis.

Stopping over in Memphis on a NYC-Vegas trip will cost your a pretty penny. Getting around Memphis without a car will cost you even more.There are not many direct flights, as far as I know, from NY to Memphis. Be careful which city you will be changing planes in, many of the Northern cities- Chicago , Detroi and Minneapolis are subject to severe weather if it is winter.
Beale St. is okay. I wasn't all that impressed with it, but I live in New York City. Graceland is small and I didn't like it, but I'm not an Elvis fan.