Thanks for all this info, ladies, I have often wondered what the difference might be. My sister and I went to a big show in Louisville last fall that was wonderful--to my thinking, a smaller version of Paducah, and I loved it. Paducah is way too big for just one day, and I never have the time to spare except maybe over a weekend. Plus, I have thought that Houston did seem awful big--two of my sisters have been to it, but I have forgotten what their "take" on it was. I have been to the Paducah show several times, just day trips, and loved it each time; but it really is too much to try to take in in one day.
My sister and I went up to the Paducah show this past Friday, and spent the night in the same hotel with a bus-load of Canadian ladies who were having a "GOOD" time. They were getting ready to leave when we were, and I spoke with a couple of them while my sister was packing our car to leave. I didn't spend $3,000 like some of the ladies said they always saved up so they could make this trip (come of think of it, I did spend that much, I bought an Elna); but mine was a spur of the moment and call home to ask DH, and I guess most people spend only what they budget it for.
(When I ever get the picture thing figured out, or a grandkid over here to do it for me, I'll be doing an entry on my trip and purchases at Paducah.)