I just went to Graceland for the first time this past weekend.

I have always thought Elvis was talented, but I'm not really an Elvis fan. My wife and I went to Graceland because we'd both been hearing about the place our entire lives so we figured we should check it out if ever in the area.

Wow. I mean... WOW.

Awesome and exhaustive would be understatements to describe the grounds, the exhibits, and obvious love and care that has been poured into this museum of a memorial.

I've yet to make it to Paisley Park, though I am a die-hard Prince fan. Largely because I really don't want to waste my time or money flying cross country for something that's half-baked.

My question is... for those that have been to both, or just to Paisley Park even, can you see the care and effort put into Paisley Park? Would you highly recommend someone to go? Even when traveling cross country to get there? Or would you lean toward "only if you're in the area" or "even if you're in the area, it's not worth stressing about if you miss it"?

Like I said, I'm not an Elvis fan but I highly recommend Graceland.

It has me wondering about what Paisley Park might be like...

[Edited 9/17/25 21:38pm]

Graceland is NOTHING next to Paisley Park.

Last year on a whim I considered visiting Graceland in place of another cancelled trip but ultimately decided against that travel. I'd still like to visit someday, perhaps during the post-Thanksgiving season when they prep for their Christmastime displays! I'm old enough to have taken in the projected aura of Elvis and follow the progression of his progeny so I'm thinking it'd be nice to attend as one of the cultural touchstones of USA lore. Plus, I found that they have a themed hotel nearby where you can stay when you visit.

>

I have visited Paisley Park--in passing while Prince was alive and once after his death in it's current museum-and-special-events setup. If you're a fan and have any interest whatsoever toward spending some time at the ground-zero of Prince's world, then go there, no question. It's kind-of a time capsule and it also seems like the management has been trying different scheduled events and enhacements to keep the people coming around.

Germanegro said:

Last year on a whim I considered visiting Graceland in place of another cancelled trip but ultimately decided against that travel. I'd still like to visit someday, perhaps during the post-Thanksgiving season when they prep for their Christmastime displays! I'm old enough to have taken in the projected aura of Elvis and follow the progression of his progeny so I'm thinking it'd be nice to attend as one of the cultural touchstones of USA lore. Plus, I found that they have a themed hotel nearby where you can stay when you visit.

>

I have visited Paisley Park--in passing while Prince was alive and once after his death in it's current museum-and-special-events setup. If you're a fan and have any interest whatsoever toward spending some time at the ground-zero of Prince's world, then go there, no question. It's kind-of a time capsule and it also seems like the management has been trying different scheduled events and enhacements to keep the people coming around.

Thanks for your comment. I've seen so many negative comments about what the Estate has done in recent years (with regards to the music) that it has made me more hesitant than eager about checking out the museum.

laytonian said:

Graceland is NOTHING next to Paisley Park.

Care to elaborate?

I think Paisley Park is worth visiting if you're a Prince fan. I don't know about Graceland but Prince basically lived there (when he wasn't married), it was his sanctuary, his home, his everything.

banishedones666 said:

How big is Graceland compared to Paisley Park? Neither are in future travel plans but I guess Graceland appeals to me more in the sense of I feel without Prince at Paisley, there would be no magic there to behold. Yes, Elvis isn't there either but he wasn't the magic creature Prince was is all.

Graceland grounds are 13+ acres. Graceland was his home he built at 22 years old after returning from the military. The actual home has to be 4,500 or so square feet including rec rooms, etc. The Graceland grounds include an automobile depot with 20+ designer vehicles (cars, motorcycles, boats); you also get to check out his private planes. (You can walk through the large one.) There are several exhibit halls that exhaustively walk you through his personal and incredible professional life; there's a concert venue, 3 restaraunts, 4 gift shops.

paisleyparkgirl said:

I think Paisley Park is worth visiting if you're a Prince fan. I don't know about Graceland but Prince basically lived there (when he wasn't married), it was his sanctuary, his home, his everything.

Thanks, it sounds worth a visit. Also, Graceland was Elvis' actual home as well.

laytonian said:

Graceland is NOTHING next to Paisley Park.

I've never been to Graceland, but have been to Paisley Park many times. It is 2 levels, but you only have access to the main level. They have guided tours of the Atrium, Studios A, B, and C, Video Editing Suite, the Soundstage, and the NPGMC/L4OA room. They have various outfits and instruments on display throughout that they change sporadically. If you can come when they are having an event, that would even be better. If you are a die-hard fan, you should go if you are able. They haven't built any new buildings, so the space is pretty much as it was when Prince passed.

motherfunka said:

I've never been to Graceland, but have been to Paisley Park many times. It is 2 levels, but you only have access to the main level. They have guided tours of the Atrium, Studios A, B, and C, Video Editing Suite, the Soundstage, and the NPGMC/L4OA room. They have various outfits and instruments on display throughout that they change sporadically. If you can come when they are having an event, that would even be better. If you are a die-hard fan, you should go if you are able. They haven't built any new buildings, so the space is pretty much as it was when Prince passed.

Thanks for the detail. Graceland is similar in that you have access to the first floor (in the actual main home). I agree that I should couple the trip with an event, to maximize the trip. If I could I would have checked out the Broadway show, but that doesn't seem feasible this year. I like that there are guided tours. Maybe I can check out something at First Avenue as well.

Aside from the impression that Minneapolis City Police are rather agressive-looking, I find the city of Minneapolis to be an interesting city! Museums are around. The state capitol St. Paul is just across the Mississippi River--and did you know that there is a riverwalk and system of locks alongside it? Downtown has nice restaurants and its system of bridges between buildings is a point of interest.

>

First Avenue is likely a fine venue to visit , but try going to Bunkers on a Sunday night. Mambo's Combo is a regular band in their weekly lineup and it's very likey that you would find yourself a prime audience with the one-and-only bassist extrordinaire Sonny Thompson. They have free popcorn there also!

Go have some fun in the Midwest!

My wife and I went to Paisley Park in 2017. I loved it. Not sure how a casual fan would feel, but I all but got goosebumps walking through spaces where I knew he existed. At that point, his urn was still visible in the atrium with the giant Prince symbol on the floor. I vaguely recall reading that they subsequently took it out of there, but I'm not certain about that. Anyway, actually being there in person was even better than playing the Prince Interacitve CD-ROM game from back in the '90's!

My lady and I also went to Graceland, but didn't go inside. The tickets were simply too steep for our middling level of enthusiasm.

Germanegro said:

Aside from the impression that Minneapolis City Police are rather agressive-looking, I find the city of Minneapolis to be an interesting city! Museums are around. The state capitol St. Paul is just across the Mississippi River--and did you know that there is a riverwalk and system of locks alongside it? Downtown has nice restaurants and its system of bridges between buildings is a point of interest.

>

First Avenue is likely a fine venue to visit , but try going to Bunkers on a Sunday night. Mambo's Combo is a regular band in their weekly lineup and it's very likey that you would find yourself a prime audience with the one-and-only bassist extrordinaire Sonny Thompson. They have free popcorn there also!

Go have some fun in the Midwest!

Thanks for your great recommendations!

sahara said:

My wife and I went to Paisley Park in 2017. I loved it. Not sure how a casual fan would feel, but I all but got goosebumps walking through spaces where I knew he existed. At that point, his urn was still visible in the atrium with the giant Prince symbol on the floor. I vaguely recall reading that they subsequently took it out of there, but I'm not certain about that. Anyway, actually being there in person was even better than playing the Prince Interacitve CD-ROM game from back in the '90's!

My lady and I also went to Graceland, but didn't go inside. The tickets were simply too steep for our middling level of enthusiasm.

Graceland can certainly get expensive, but we felt we got our money's worth at the 2nd ticket level. The tickets get extremely expensive for various vip-level ticlets/tours and lunch and all kinds of stuff. (You can even pay for a bus tour/excursion to his birthplace!) We're middling fans ourselves, but even at that lower fandom level, we easily spent 4+ hours there and still didn't do a lot of things available to us at that 2nd (from lowest) level ticket price.