You didn't mention when you are planning on going. The spring show is extremely crowded and you won't get great views of the quilts, etc . I just returned from trying out the Fall show and loved it. Lots of vendors and very busy but could get up and personal with any quilt I wanted to. Love it.
We stayed at the Auburn Place which is right beside the Holiday Inn and both of them are right across from Hanncocks. Easy walking but use the lights! The traffic is crazy! Good places right around there for lunch and supper. Breakfast was part of the price of the room. Buffet style and very good. Smaller hotel, brand new, and will definitely book it again. Fresh cookies every night I was there
During the shows there are free shuttles that run everywhere you would want to go. Free shuttle runs from Spring show to the end of the fall show one driver told me. Be sure to go to the Quilt Museum--awesome--especially the wooden quilt. Quilt store quite close to there as well. See the murals along the water. Eleanor Burns from what we understood is closed-opened for Quilt week but that was it.