rexie

Here is another Bed and Breakfast in Benton, Ky. It is called Aire Castle Bed and Breakfast Benton, Ky. That will take you to their website and you can get info from them. I just talked to the owner and he does still have rooms available. Their number is 866-403-AIRE

sewjoyce

Wear GOOD walking shoes. Don't plan on sitting down for hours on end. We usually only get to go for the day so we have a "schedule" and stick to it (well, more or less....) :lol: :lol: Oh, and take plenty of money as well as your credit card :lol: :lol:

tlrnhi

can someone swing by and get me on their way? ;)

rexie

I take a big tote/shoulder bag with me to carry the freebies and small things I buy. I put in a bottle of water and several packs of cheese crackers. I have a small notebook (sometimes you can just take notes or get ideas then look up online later). If you wear footies or socks, sometimes just changing thme gives your feet the idea that they have rested.

Barb_MO

I've been a couple times for the show and went one Dec. to the quilt museum and shopping at Hancock of Paducah.

We stayed in Jackson Mo and it is about an hour away. we would start out very early and stay in paducah until Hancock closed and the have dinner and back to Jackson. we usually check out of our rooms and go back to Paducah on Sunday morning for several hours before we have to head back home.

rexie

Another motel in the area is Sportsmans Lodge. The address is Benton, Ky. but it overlooks Ky. Lake. These are nice rooms. Said she has about 10 left. 270-354-8333

Tallulah

You have to go to Eleanor's show. She has a huge tent and does a show several times a day. She will have a big store there with all her notions and patterns. She also has tents of fabrics at good prices. You can drive there or take the shuttle.
She also has the shop downtown.

There is a place downtown that sells AQS books for $5.00. They tell you that you have to buy 6, but you don't. There are vendors in the front of this building. The books are in the back.

The last few years, Ricky Tims has done a Friday night show at their big auditorium downtown. It is about $15 and the place is full. He is funny and entertaining. We love it. The bookstore is right across the street from the auditorium. Wish that I could think of the name of it. The shuttles run downtown, too.

You have to do Hancock's of Paducah, which is not the same as the Hancocks chain.
You will not believe the amount to fabric that they have. If you walk in the door and turn right, you can go to the ware room, where they have tables, tables, and tables of fabric, mostly cut in in one yd. pieces on sale. If you find something special, you can usually keep looking and find more of it. Sometimes on Sat. ,they lower the price to sell more. If you are there on Sat., go back. You will want to shop their regular fabric, too. They have all the name brands.

Our favorite part of going is shopping with the vendors. Our motto is, "If you demonstrate it well, we will buy." :)

You will want to go to the quilt museum. It is nice. Drive along their flood wall and see the murals. They are pretty.

At the convention center, there are volunteers dressed in red blazers. You can check your purchases, sewing machines, etc. with them for $1.00. They will even let you come back and add to your bag. This is so nice. They also do a free bus tour of Paducah. You sign up for this at the place where they check your bags. It is a nice way to take a break, if you are there for several days, like we always are. They have a tour guide on the bus.

At the convention center, There are quilts and vendors in a number of places. More quilts and vendors than you have probably ever seen in one place. Oh, the post office sets up there and you can ship fabric home in flat rate boxes. They will tape it up for you and have it ready to go. You just pay, address, and leave it for them to carry back to mail. You can put lots of fabric in flat rate boxes. Try rolling it, you may can get more in the box. :) Wear comfy shoes and sit when you get tired. Take snacks. I have a canvas bag with long straps that I put small purchases in. Bring a camera!

The Rotary Club has a building with antique quilt displays and more vendors! They charge a small fee and the money goes to their scholarship program.

You might want to go online and sign up for a class or two. Also go ahead and join AQS. You will get a better price on multiple day attendance and you will get their magazine for a year, too. You have to be an AQS member to take classes.

We usually make one trip to the mall to see what? More vendors.

I am sure that I can think of more, but this is it for now. You will love Paducah. Stay several days, if possible.

dglvr

Now I'm really jelious ;-)

sandpat

The best way to enjoy it???? Well....take me WITH you of course!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Donna - Batiks

Crocks! That's the shoe for Paducah with socks. It's the only shoe that I can wear all day and not cry! Even better than tennis shoes.
I understand the shows are going to be split up this year...the convention center has been under poor management and they even talked of moving to St. Louis. But it's going to be there and so worth seeing.
The Hancocks of Paducah is a MUST to go to daily!!!! And don't miss the back room. My first trip I had to idea it was back there. It has yards of precut fabric at great prices. And on Sat/Sun they put it at even a bigger discount!
Have fun!