Thoroughly enjoying their journey through the southern states of America, Clare, James, Katie and Matt discovered a few more things
Tennessee had to offer before moving on to
Mississippi.
Missed the first three parts of the American Road Trip? Catch up on the road trippers' recent adventures in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Nashville:
Graceland
Elvis Presley was just 22 when he bought this beautiful mansion in 1957. It's on a six-hectare estate and in those days, the surrounding area was rural.
Tourists flock there, particularly on significant "Elvis days". There are three tour options: Graceland mansion tour, Graceland platinum tour and Graceland entourage VIP tour. They range from one to three hours. Visitors enter the living and music room, jungle room which was used as a recording studio, and racquet building where many games of racquetball were played, one between Elvis and his cousin hours before his death.
A display of sequined jumpsuits and stage costumes worn by Elvis between 1969 and 1977 is a highlight. There are photographs of Elvis' parents Vernon and Gladys and his daughter Lisa Marie throughout the rooms.
Sun Studio
Shuttle buses run between Graceland and Sun Studio, which is another interesting place to visit. The focus is on Sam Phillips, a record producer, label owner and talent scout who played a vital role in the emergence of rock and roll. He is credited with the discovery of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Elvis recorded his first five songs there, and changed the world of music forever.
Range Master
Now here's something different. Range Master holds intensive weekend courses covering the essential skills involved in fighting with a handgun! In two days students learn how to shoot and reload quickly.
They fire up to 1000 rounds of ammunition over the weekend and need to turn up with a good handgun, holster, belt, magazine pouch and concealment garment. They suggest taking along a second gun "in case something breaks on your primary gun". All that for just US$400!
Now that everyone learned how to protect themselves, it was back into the RV and on to Mississippi.
Elvis' Birthplace Park
The most significant landmark of Tupelo's modern history is a modest, two-room house where Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935. His twin brother was stillborn. The humble home was built by his father, grandfather and uncle for just $180. About 50,000 visitors go there every year to pay homage to the King of Rock and Roll.
The family had hard financial times and moved many times, but the Presleys instilled old-fashioned values in their son. They attended the Assembly of God church where he was exposed to the gospel music that influenced his musical style.
The city bought the house and land with money from a 1957 concert Elvis gave in Tupelo. He wanted a park for neighbourhood children and the six hectares of Elvis Presley Park has a Walk of Life surrounding the house of his birth. A museum traces his road to fame and has a collection of clothing including riding boots and yes, another jumpsuit. The Chapel, built by donations from his fans, offers a time for meditation.
It has a life-size Elvis at 13 statue of the King as a boy in oversized overalls, open-collar shirt and plain shoes, evidence of the humble beginnings.
Tupelo Hardware
Serving the city since 1926, Tupelo Hardware is considered by Elvis fans as the second most important site in town. It is where Gladys Presley bought her son his first guitar.
The store is owned and managed by the third generation of the Booth family and the three-storey building still has the original music counter as well as all the other goodies you would expect to find in a hardware store.
Tupelo Auto Museum
Featuring 11,000 square metres of automobile displays and open viewing restoration bays, this is a car lover's heaven. There are more than 100 antique, classic and collectible automobiles, chronologically displayed, illustrating more than 100 years of design and engineering.
You will see an 1886 Benz, representing the birth of the automobile and a never-driven 1994 Dodge Viper. The collection, valued at more than US$6 million includes a rare Tucker and a Lincoln owned by Elvis. He gifted many cars, not only to the museum but to random people he thought might need a set of wheels.
Related gallery: American road trip part three: Nashville and Kentucky
Related gallery: American road trip part two: Indiana and Kentucky
Related gallery: American Road Trip part one: Chicago
Location
The American states of Tennessee and Mississippi.
Cost
Graceland prices for 2011 are: mansion tours around $31 for adults and $14 for children; platinum tours $35 and $17; and Elvis entourage VIP tours are $70 each for everyone.
Elvis Presley birthplace tours are $4 for the house, $8 for the museum, $6 for the church and $12 for a combination. Children's prices are $2, $4, $3 and $6 respectively.
Tupolo Auto Museum entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children. It is open every day, except on public holidays.
Apollo has a special rate for Getaway viewers, with an 8.2m six-berth Eclipse Camper RV for 12 days from Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas for $1299. There is a free upgrade to a 9.4m Apollo US Wanderer for booking online. The offer is valid for travel until March 31, 2011. Log on to www.apollorv.com/getaway for all the details.
If you want to travel closer to home, Apollo has a pre-Christmas special in Australia and New Zealand. Log on to www.apollocamper.com and use the booking code: APUSGETE.
Numbers for both are limited.
V Australia has flights to Los Angeles from:
- Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane $1339
- Adelaide $1639
- Perth $1939
On sale until November 18, 2010, for travel between January 17 and March 31, 2011.
Prices correct November 11, 2010.
For further information
V Australia
www.vaustralia.com.au
Apollo
Ph: 1800 777 779
www.apollorv.com
Code: APUSGETE
Graceland
3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis, Tennessee 38186-0508
Ph: +1 901 332 3322
www.elvis.com/graceland
Sun Studio
706 Union Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
United States
Ph: +1 901 521 0664
www.sunstudio.com
Range Master
2611 S Mendenhall Road
Memphis, Tennessee 38115-1503
United States
Ph: +1 901 370 5600
www.rangemaster.com
Elvis Presley Birthplace
306 Elvis Presley Drive
Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
Ph: +1 662 841 1245
www.elvispresleybirthplace.com
Tupelo Hardware
114 West Main Street
Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
United States
Ph: +1 662 842 4637
www.tupelohardware.com
sales@tupelohardware.com
Tupelo Auto Museum
45 Main Street
Tupelo, Mississippi 38801
Ph: +1 662 842 4242
www.tupeloautomuseum.com
For more information, visit www.elvis.com.
Visas: Most Australians do not need a visa, providing they have a machine-readable passport with at least six months' validity after the departure day, have a round-trip non-refundable ticket and do not intend to stay longer than 90 days. Australians need to complete a pre-travel authorisation at www.cbp.gov/esta.
Electricity: 110V to 115V at 60Hz. Outlets take two parallel, flat prongs. Australian visitors will need a US adapter and converter.
Time zone: Memphis and Tupelo are GMT -6.
Currency: The American dollar.
International dialling code: +1.
