The rock n roll legend moved to Memphis from Tupelo, Miss., in 1948 and graduated from Humes High School in 1953. Get in idea of what life was like during Elvis time by visiting the Pink Palace Museum, a regional history museum.
Exhibits include a shrunken head, a replica of the original Piggly Wiggly grocery store and a hand-carved miniature circus. The museum includes a planetarium and was voted one of the top five in the South by Southern Living magazine, 3050 Central Ave., (901) 320-6320, .
Elvis was one of the greatest rockers of all time. Learn more about him as well as such legends as Al Green, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis at the Smithsonian Institute s Memphis Rock n Soul Museum, 191 Beale St., Suite 100, (901) 205-2533, .
Elvis fame went beyond his music; he starred in 31 films, including Jailhouse Rock in 1957. See a true big screen four stories at the CTI IMAX Theatre, 3050 Central Ave., (901) 320-6320, .
Elvis served in the U.S. Military from 1958-64.
Learn more about America s wartime past at the Veterans Museum, about an hour s drive from Memphis. It offers exhibits from World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm, 100 Veteran s Drive, Halls, Tenn., (731) 836-7400.
No visit to Memphis is complete without a trip to Graceland, the 14-acre home of Elvis. You will experience the cultural changes that led to the birth of rock 'n' roll and see how Elvis became the most celebrated entertainer in the world, (800) 238-2000,
Heartbreak Hotel serves as a host to Graceland visitors. The 128-room hotel features four Elvis-themed suites Graceland, Hollywood, Gold Platinum and Burning Love 24-hour-a-day Elvis movies and a heart-shaped pool, (877) 777-0606.
3677 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, Tenn.,
One of Elvis early musical influences was the R B he listened to on Beale Street.
There remain plenty of options to catch some live music and a cool beverage on the world-famous street.
Alfred s offers live music nightly and features a downstairs patio. It is one of the last places in Memphis to close its door every night, (888) 433-3711, 197 Beale St.
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Memphis music stars such as Ms. Ruby Wilson, the queen of Beale Street, Larry Springfield and Eugene Gales can be heard at B.
B. King s Blues Club, (901) 524-5464, 143 Beale St., .
Silky O Sullivan s has a beer-drinking goat the predicts the future, and in August it guessed USC would play in the Liberty Bowl. Stop by and pet Maynard, join the sing-a-long piano show and check out one of Beale street s most historic clubs, which once included a poker room, (901) 522-8462, 183 Beale St., .
Elvis recorded 18 No. 1 hits. Look for them or other tunes to fill your IPod at Memphis Music, which claims to be the largest Blues specialty store in the world, (901) 526-5047, 149 Beale St.
Check out some of the same places Elvis hung out at as a youngster with Backbeat Tours of Memphis Music. Tours of the city s music history are led by Memphis musicians who'll captivate you with their own magical blend of story and song and bring history alive, (866) 392-2328, .
As legend has it, Elvis was known to sit down to a big meal or two.
Get your grub on at one of these dining establishments:
The Pig on Beale boasts is has the best slow-smoke barbecue on Beale Street. It features 1950s decor, with checkerboard floors and vintage movie posters. The bar hosts live Americana music Thursday through Sunday, (901) 529-1544, 167 Beale St.
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Corky s BBQ has been voted the No. 1 barbecue restaurant in Memphis for 20 consecutive years and has been featured on Food Network, Bon Appetit and Southern Living, 1740 N. Germantown Parkway, (800) 926-7597; 5259 Poplar Ave.
, (800) 926-7697, corkysbbq.com.
If you need a change of pace from barbecue, chow down on a steak at the Butcher Shop Steakhouse, recipient of the 2004 Turner CSouth Award for best steaks.
The menu includes steaks from 8-ounce filets to 30-ounce T-bones, Atlantic salmon and grilled marinated chicken, 101 South Front St., (901) 521-0856.
Looking for something a little different?
Head to Cielo, whose international cuisine has influences from South America, the Carribean Islands and Pacific Rim countries. The restaurant s decor centers on 19th century architecture and artwork featured on the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 679 Adams Ave., (901) 524-1886.
Don t leave town without picking up an Elvis T-shirt and Memphis postcards from the Best of Memphis Gift Shop, 333 Beale St., (901) 522-8832.
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