Paducah 2017 - Advice needed!
 

It's been on my bucket list to go to AQS Quilt Week in Paducah, so my husband and I are going in April 2017. We'll be stayIng in Brookport IL. I'd love it if you could share tips on how to park, get around town, eat, and top things to do there. We're planning on driving in on Tuesday and driving out on Friday morning. Thanks!

I asked that question a few years ago..maybe this can help you.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/offline...a-t204113.html

No suggestions just let me say I'm envious. I'd love to go to Paducah and/or Houston sometime.:hunf:

Since you are driving I suggest you park at the farmers market It is free parking across from the quilt museum. You will be half way between the convention center and downtown. You can walk to both
Strawberry shortcake sold by the Boy Scouts is a must. Have fun

I'm hoping to get to Paducah after I retire. I have a couple friends living a couple hours from there and the Corvette museum is in Bowling Green so I'd have plenty to do.

Gramajo, you should really get to Houston. I live here and go every year and every year it astounds me all the wonderful things I see.

I am planning on going with my husband too. Just one day though. He likes to visit with people while I shop :) At least that is my plans. Last 2 years I couldn't go because I broke a few pieces and parts. Gee, it will be here before we know it. Gotta to to Hancock House of Fabrics! Quilt museum and Eleanor Burns store. It is all good.

we are talking a trip to include Paducah--but not during AQS week--is it still worth the trip? I just know that my DH would NOT want to be there with tons of crowds at a show.

I love going to Paducah during quilt week. I prefer going to the exhibition alone so I can walk fast and see everything. There are so many vendors and famous quilters there, I have met many of them. One wanted two women and I to applaud after every paragraph she spoke!! I'm serious, no joke. Take loads of cash, go to Hancocks and Eleanor Burns shows-she's a real lady. Transportation is easy to get in the city.

quiltingshorttimer, we went not on Quilt Week and really enjoyed the town. There are only a few fabric shops that are there yearround, Quilt in a Day, Hancocks and a Sew-n-Vac shop (didn't go there). Lots of antique/resale shops downtown too. Do NOT miss the Quilt Museum!

There is a wonderful quilt shop directly across from the Quilt Museum-they have many quilt kits, precuts and great values on quilt fabric and everyone is so helpful and friendly!

yes it is still worth the trip, to see the Mural that runs along the river, and the house of fabric and Eeanor Burn stores. and so much more. I love Paducah!

I believe this shop has closed.

My Daughter and I went to Hancocks of Paducah Dec. 3rd this year. Lots of fast food close by. We chose Bob Evans.
We bought lots and lots of fabrics. Neither of us needed more but, that didn't stop us from buying. We had about 3 Hours - 15 minute trip. A very easy and relaxing trip. We left the Husbands at home.
Enjoy your trip.

My first trip was last Spring, but I'm planning to go back this year and stay right in town this time. You can walk to just about everything and the driving/parking is easy to do. Plenty of parking areas! You would have to drive to Hancocks, but everything else in town is all within walking distance of the convention center.

Once you park your car there are continuous shuttles to take you to all the hot spots. I have only gone to Paducah on bus trips and used the shuttles for all my transportation. They make it so convenient.

A great place to eat while there is Gold Rush Café on Boardway in Paducah. A great chicken place to eat is a mom and pop that fries your chicken as you wait. The chicken isn't frozen bought in fresh daily. It's small and busy but so worth the wait. The name is Just Like Mama's Hone Cooking on East 5th St. Hope this helps. If you don't mind traveling a few miles there is another great place that has huge portions, it's off the interstate toward the dam. It's called Patti's ,1793 John O'Bryan Ave Grand Rivers Ky.

You are right . I was there in Oct. and it was closed.

I believe the shop is just an empty bldg rented out during quilt week. Great deals there. I have heard they are supposed to have 2 quilt shows in Paducah this year. Yay

Thanks for the advice!

Yes, unfortunately, Pat English passed away suddenly last year. I knew her personally and she will be missed by folks around the world.

(next post will have suggestions on Paducah)

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Is the quilt shop in Benton still opened ,love it

Yes, she's still there. (I actually live in Benton)

My curiousity again......not recognizing the town brookport, looked it up........very small....could not find any hotel/ motels there.......thinking of maybe going to Paducah show in April......or the new one in sept?

It's called Round Pond Lodging... we found it in Airbnb... I think they just joined airbnb in November...it's actually also a hunting lodge (in season), so it's rustic.

thanks, but no thanks....looked it up...pics were not to my liking......but, have a good stay there.

I love going, I have a sil who lives there and I stay with her, then i shop eat shop and eat more, lol