Heres you Weekly Travel Tid-Bit! All Hail “The King” – Elvis’ 80th Birthday For fans of the “king” of rock ‘n’ roll, the first week in January is a time to celebrate and in 2015, it holds special significance. Memphis puts on its party clothes and spins some records on the turntable to mark what would have been the 80th birthday of Elvis Presley on Jan. 8. Naturally, festivities revolve around Graceland, the mansion purchased by the 22-year-old Elvis in 1957 for $102,000 and now a tourist attraction drawing more than 600,000 visitors a year. A reception and tour for members of the Official Graceland Insiders kicks things off on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The next morning, Jan. 8, everyone’s invited to an Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony at Graceland, followed by complimentary cake. That afternoon, at the Holiday Inn Memphis Airport, fans will have an opportunity to hear from those who worked closely with the king in “Conversations on Elvis.” Bring your blue suede shoes, because the day winds down with a dance featuring Elvis’ greatest hits. On Jan. 9, fans will have a chance to see Elvis larger than life, as the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis, a historic 1920s movie palace, screens two of his most beloved films, “Jailhouse Rock” and “Viva Las Vegas.” Birthday weekend events conclude Saturday, Jan. 10, with a Tribute to Elvis concert by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. It features Terry Mike Jeffrey, who portrayed the young singer in “Elvis – An American Musical.” Of course, fans can visit Graceland throughout the weekend, learning about Elvis from his humble beginnings to international fame. Tours are offered of the mansion as well as exhibits on Elvis in Las Vegas and Hawaii, Graceland’s stable, and the king’s collection of automobiles and custom jets. Finally, visitors can pay their respects at the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family are laid to rest. But there’s much more to see and do in this vibrant city of 650,000 people on the banks of the Mississippi River. Take a riverboat cruise to see the Mississippi in all its beauty. Walk along Beale Street, a haven for lovers of barbecue and the blues that’s lined with shops, clubs and restaurants. Tour Gibson’s Memphis guitar factory to watch the world-famous instruments being made. Step back into history at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Located at the site where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, the museum tells the story of African-Americans’ struggle for equality. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the Memphis Zoo, one of only four in the United States to house giant pandas. And don’t forget to stop by the Peabody Hotel for a must-see attraction, the march of the Peabody ducks. At 11 a.m. the hotel rolls out the red carpet for its five North American mallards. They spend the day in the lobby’s marble fountain before marching back to their rooftop suite at 5 p.m. For help planning a vacation to Memphis, contact your travel agent.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:14:00 +0000
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