melodyr

As many have stated, there is free shuttle service all over town during the show. They will pick you up at hotels and drop you off at many of the events. . I'm not sure if the Illinois hotels are on the route, you might check with your front desk to see....there is a casino for non-quilters (husbands) in Metropolis if your hubby likes that sort of thing. You can park downtown in the Farmers market parking lot or at Hancocks...shuttle service will stop at Hancocks about every 30 minutes.

The AQS show at the Convention Center, the Vendors Mall in the big 'marshmallow tent' the Rotary Club antique quilt show at the Cherry Civic Center, Eleanor Burns (at a couple of locations...shows and sales) Hancocks of Paducah, Hobby Lobby has a huge fabric dept over at the mall as well and you can download a 40% off coupon for 1 item every day. The Museum of course. If the weather is nice, Eleanor Burns provides a horse drawn wagon around downtown. Lots of antique stores, the Carson Center for the awards ceremony and Ricky Timms usually puts on a concert at some point during the show. The old Finkle's Dept store is also a vendor's mall with book sales in the back ($5 books)

There are new micro breweries and moonshine distilleries popping up in Paducah if hubby might like that. Don't miss Kirchoff's Bakery for sweet treats and fantastic sandwiches (although the wait during Quilt Week is sometimes long...go early) The Murals on the floodwall are a must see and if you like home cooking, many local churches offer fantastic meals during the show for surprisingly little money (usually less than $10 for a home cooked meal including dessert. Reservations recommended...these are EXTREMELY popular)

Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions...I'm local and my mom is one of the YoYo ladies that volunteers at the Museum.

KalamaQuilts

It was one of the places on my must see list last fall. The museum there, Missouri Star downtown, and The International Quilt Study Center & Museum in Nebraska http://www.quiltstudy.org/
We aren't shoppers so seeing the displays were our reasons for going. We'll do all three again this year. Crowds make me anxious so wouldn't go to any of them if something big was going on.

and I'd recommend the ship museum here
http://1856.com/ absolutely amazing.

lynnie

enjoy your trip. remember, we love to see your pictures

Onebyone

I'm going this year too. I have been many times. It's easy to park just about anywhere but I like to park at the Convention Center. I can walk to the quilt museum and book building and of course be right there at the show. Eleanor Burns downtown store has a big parking lot on the side of it. Her warehouse sales have ample parking too. PaperPieces is walking distance from the Convention Center as well as downtown historic part. You can drive from there to Hancock's of Paducah and it has a big parking area. The mall has great quilt vendors too and of course great parking. Driving and parking is not a problem. And if you have the time, leave your car parked and take the free bus to all the quilting area. You will meet so many quilters from all over on the buses. Many times I will stay on the bus for an hour or so just to chat with different people and groups. Also Hancock's front porch is a great way to meet people. Buses unload there in front. It gets hot there in April so wear comfortable clothes. I drive there about 6 hours from me and go alone. I enjoy it so much more doing what I want when I want, seeing something twice or three times if it suits me. DH would be bored out of his mind. LOL

Onebyone

melodyr What is the name of the other quilt show down the road near Patti's restaurant that is the same week as Paducah Quilt show?

melodyr

The Grand Rivers Quilt Show, but I don't believe that they are having it in 2017...I'll have to check and get back to everyone on that.

If you want to visit a nice fabric shop away from Paducah, this one is near Mayfield. https://www.facebook.com/Backyard-Fa...92514/?fref=ts

The Murray Sewing Center is great as well, but they pack the whole store up and rent an old warehouse across from the Quilt Museum during the week, so they are closed at the Murray location then. https://www.facebook.com/Murray-Sewi...97334/?fref=ts

Ripped on Scotch

We parked the car and just took the shuttles around town. They have a lot of buses that run that week so you don't have to drive around once you get there.

melodyr

Yes, I think they sub-let the tour busses that have drivers just waiting around till their tour is done. So, the local trolleys and the large tour busses run continuously.

Onebyone

Remember the buses take a long time because they stop at most of the hotels and motels between the downtown and Mall. It can eat up your time if you only have a day or two.

yel

Is the quilt shop in Benton still opened ,love it