Lifestyle: The Elvis Fan
So you're an Elvis fan. You live, drink, eat and sleep the King do you? Well, let us tell you something: You've come to the right place.
Q: I'm coming to Vegas and I love Elvis. Where should I go? What should I see?
A: We'd start our tour-de-King at "Legends in Concert." Don't forget to check out Pete Vallee who performs as "Big Elvis" at Bill's Gambin' Hall & Saloon. It's a free show and one
of the only all-Elvis acts in town. Another Elvis show is "The King starring Trent Carlini" at the LVH - Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Here audiences can see an award-winning tribute artist pay homage to the King in the
same hotel that Elvis headlined at between 1969 and 1976. While you're there, make sure to check out the large bronze Elvis
statue the LVH resurrected in honor of the King. The statue is located outside the hotel entrance.
Cirque du Soleil's "Viva Elvis" at Aria is another revue based on the King. The show features singers, dancers and gymnasts who convey Cirque's unique interpretation of Elvis' life and music. The Elvis-inspired Gold Lounge is also located near the theater. Coming from the Light Group, in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil, Gold Lounge was designed to look like a place where Elvis would hang out. The lounge includes two bars and is decked out in gold and dark colors.
Q: Where can I be married by an Elvis?
A: In this case, true love doesn't travel on a gravel road. Just take your baby down Las Vegas Boulevard to Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel or Graceland Wedding Chapel to get hitched by The King- it's become a landmark on the Strip with over 50 years of success. Some of the hotels also offer Elvis-themed weddings. Say "I Do" at the Wedding Chapel at Planet Hollywood with their Blue Hawaii package, or walk down the aisle with Elvis at the LVH where they offer "Love Me Tender" and "Viva Las Vegas" wedding packages.
Q: Where is the best place to buy Elvis souvenirs and memorabilia?
A: We've heard that a good place to visit is the Bonanza Gift Shop on the Strip where you can pick up your own pair of gold rimmed sunglasses with sideburns or visit one of the gift shops at the LVH. The King reigned there for many years, performing 837 sold-out shows - a fact the hotel is still proud of. They also have a large bronze statue of Elvis outside the hotel entrance. An all-Elvis gift shop is located near the "Viva Elvis" theater at Aria. The shop sells an assortment of souvenirs from Elvis Pez dispensers to jackets, DVDs, CDs and other items.
Q: Where is the best place to spot an Elvis?
A: You're in Vegas baby, and you're just as likely to see an Elvis walking down the street or falling from the sky in the form of a "Flying Elvi" as you are on a stage. But if you want to be sure to spot one, stop by Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Attraction to get a picture with the King.
Q: Who is the best Elvis impersonator?
A: When it comes to Elvis you've got options. Some say it's, Matt Lewis, the one who appears in the "Legends in Concert" show at Harrah's. Others like Brendan Paul at Graceland Wedding Chapel. He used to perform as the Elvis in "Legends in Concert" before helping lovers say "I do" with a little rock 'n' roll.
Trent Carlini, who performs as the King in his show at the LVH, is another option. Fans of the ABC TV show "The Next Best Thing" will recognize Carlini from his win in 2007. Carlini competed against around 30 other tribute artists and won the grand prize of $100,000. When it comes to Elvis acts in Vegas, we like 'em all.
Q: Elvis might not be with us anymore, but where can I go to try and relive the days when he played in Vegas?
A: Although the original hotel doesn't exist anymore, Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married in an eight-minute ceremony at the Aladdin's wedding chapel in 1967. The hotel has since changed names, but you can visit the Wedding Chapel at Planet Hollywood on the same site. Then head over to the LVH where Elvis performed and stayed when he was in town.
