For several years I did the Albany, NY area Shop Hop with my sisters. We had a blast though to do all 9 shops was a trip of well over 300 miles in 2 days. Every shop served snacks and bottled water. The best was a chicken salad from a shop in Woodstock. The shops' staff dress up for the theme of the year and work like crazy getting ready for the event. We collected all the parts for the shop hop quilt patterns but never made any of them. I did win 2nd prize one year- $25 gift certificate to each of the 9 shops. Now there are more shops over more days but finances are too tight so I've only occasionally gone to the 2 or 3 shops within 100 miles. I love to see the shops and budget myself to a few fat quarters or 1/2 yard per shop. I'm close to the VT and MA border so I can visit during their shop hops also if I wish, but I have so much fabric waiting to be used that I'd rather spend the hours sewing than driving, and I go to quilt shows instead where the same shops are vendors.