I'll be doing our region this year - don't remember the number, but it's the Gulf Coast. Last year I think we had 14 shops that stretched from Corpus Christi to Nederland and we made maybe 10 of those shops. This year there are fewer shops that cover fewer miles so I'm hoping to get to all in my region.
I found shops I didn't know existed. My husband loves to do this sort of thing and it's "talk time" for us. I look for fat quarters in each shop that I use to make red/white/black quilts for piano students who are graduating. So ... don't spend a lot unless there's really something different or special. I did find a shop last year that had backing fabric for a better price than my local shop and got some of that.
Since I can go only on weekends - and babysit a grandson every other weekend - I'm really limited in the time I have for this, but ... I enjoy what I get to. There's just something FUN about hopping through the month. THere's an excitement in the air that's ... fun!