Tennessee | Visiting Memphis & Graceland (Part 2)

*Hi! Have you seen Part 1 of my Tennessee trip? 😊

I only stayed in Tennessee for a short while, but for the time I was there, I had the time of my life! From the sights, to the nature, to the sweet people, everything left a great impression on me – and I wouldn’t mind living there! 😉

Of course, I couldn’t leave without visiting Memphis and Graceland! Here are my photos from the second part of my trip to Tennessee!

Growing up, I spent part of my summers with my grandparents in Southern California. During that time, my memories were mixed in between Elvis songs. I remember riding in the backseat while my grandma hummed along to Elvis crooning over the radio speakers. And sitting at the kitchen table while my grandpa danced to “Viva Las Vegas,” followed by an uncanny impersonation. Needless to say, visiting Graceland was special for me and I felt my grandpa with me that day.

Side note: If anyone knows anyone who looks like Elvis, tell him I’m single 😉

Standing on the front steps of Elvis’ Memphis mansion shook me to the core. I just kept saying to myself: He stood here. He stood on these steps. He opened this door. This is HIS house!! It was so surreal.

Also: He was very brave with all the white considering he had little Lisa Marie running around! I wonder what stain fighter they used… 😏

Elvis’ Meditation Gardens was one of my favorite places on the property, and coincidentally, it was his favorite place as well. He used to come out here and just sit and think, relax, and pray. It was modeled after fountains in Italy, and there were even original stained glass pieces from 1800s Spain!

I stood here at this spot for a good 10 minutes. It was overwhelming. I could hear a mixture of people next to me crying, talking about his life, reading the gravestones, and my own thoughts. Here lies a man who had a dream and made it a reality, all the while never forgetting his family, his faith, his humble beginnings, and the person he was before the fame and fortune.

Touring his car collection had me in awe. I’m not a huge car person per se… If you asked me anything about these cars, I’d tell you they’re white, pink and red 😂 However, I felt so lucky to be in the presence of these beauties that Elvis sat in and that were the highlight of so many iconic films.

“Before Elvis, there was nothing” – John Lennon

Here are only SOME of Elvis’ awards. SOME! This wall is over 25 feet tall and full of awards, yet this is only some of the awards Elvis received in his lifetime. If that doesn’t signify what a legendary artist he was, I don’t know what does. Breathtaking.

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Have you ever visited Memphis or Graceland? 😊