Kevin, I hop you get some great spots to visit. Not so many in Boston that I know but if you head to the south shore there are a few more. Here is one to start with: Heart in Hands, 235 Columbia St. Weymouth, MA is a beautiful small shop (closed Mondays)

I was going to suggest the 3 Dudes as well. When visiting my family I've shopped there. The the guys who run the place are more than helpful.

In Mpls, check out Blue Bamboo! I don't think I've ever seen so many bolts of fabric in my whole life...

Jinny Beyer's shop is in the vicinity of the BWI airport. It is a great shop and if she is there, get to talk to her. She is a great lady. She designs fabrics for RJR and has them in her shop as well as her patterns. Don't miss it!

If you're in the Baltimore area (BWI) Seminole Sampler is 10 minutes from airport- I suspect it might take longer to rent the car!!

You might even find some shops with "sit and sew" where you could join them with your projects. Then you could meet some of the area's quilters.

When I go to a place and want quilt shops, I go to the internet. Print the addresses and I check them out.

When you hit Los Angeles, you HAVE TO go to M & L Fabrics in Anaheim, CA.
http://orangecounty.citysearch.com/p...unt_store.html
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water, you will be there for hours. It is practically across the street from Knott's Berry Farm and very near Disneyland.
Sandy

Quilters club of America has a free app "quilt shops" that show the quilt shops in any given area.

Kevin - you ever land in Portland, Oregon, be sure to go to the FabricDepot. It's a MUST DO! Acres of GOOD fabric - they sell LQS quality fabric -- named fabric (like Moda). I went for the first time this last fall and almost hyperventilated!!!!