Traveling question..
 

I will be traveling in the east this summer, starting in Boston,to Maine, Ct., NH. I am traveling with a non quilter..my question is..we will be about a hour away from Keepsake quilting. Should I insist on the detour or is it a quilt store like we have here at home? I will be stopping at any I find along the way but wanted to know if it's worth the trip? Any thing else near there that is a must see? Thanks for any input on this!

I would just ask if you could work the detour into your travels. Your non-quilter friend just may become a quilter. May also find something he/she never thought they would find.

A few months ago I had the opportunity to go to Keepsake Quilting. I had to drive over an hour from our hotel to get there and found it was a beautiful scenic drive. I was by myself, enjoyed every minute of it and spent a couple hours just browsing and bought so much that I had to get another suitcase the next day. The staff are wonderful there, the nearby lakes were awesome, and this was in the winter! If there is anyway you can do it I would. Not only that when I tell others they get a winsome look in their eyes and ask me to tell them what it was like.

That sounds like a wonderful trip. I have found that when traveling with non quilting friends. They don't mind stopping if my selections are quick and not too long. I have some friends that I never go shopping with because they can spend hours and never purchase anything. Too frustrating.

I have been to Keepsake several times. Large choice of fabrics and nice store. What's really lovely is that particular area of NH. Make sure you stop in Meredith, NH which is right on Lake Winnepsackie (sp?). There is a restaurant in the village that serves a turkey dinner that will blow your socks off. Its been several years but the name Hart's comes to mind.

Your companion will enjoy it. When I was there some years ago, a yarn shop was attached. Also a nice lounging porch for those that are with quilters. I spent four hours there while my DD went sight seeing around the area. She said she was glad we made the two hour detour from our regular route.

I would ask and see if they were amenable to the stop. Never hurts to ask.

Insist insist insist

Maybe you could ask her if there is something in the area that she is interested in seeing. Then it would not feel like you are pushing.

Who is driving? If it was me, I would say, I hope you don't mind, but we are going to detour. Ask them, if there is any particular place they would like to see (possibly detour to) and go from there.

When my husband and I travel, we agree that for each quilt shop we stop at, we stop at a music store (guitars, not sheet music) and we spend an equal amount of time in both. He enjoys the quilting shops, and I enjoy listening to him try out guitars. It's a win-win for both of us.

I saw this on a license frame of a car and think it fits for this trip for you. Get in, sit down, shut up and hold on! Lol. I say GO.

sounds like a great place to stop. they may have fun too.
let them help you pick out fabrics and they will enjoy your trip there too.

There are other shops in the same plaza that may interest your friend. There is a small bookshop, a yarn shop as someone mentioned, a nice little supermarket that has some different items in it, a liquor store and close by, a very unique gift shop called Yikes that sells US made items and a home furnishing store that I haven't been it but looks upscale. There's also a small restaurant called The Mug by the Bay that my brother loves. Back in Meredith there is a great bead shop called Bella Beads and other great shops in a converted mill. I hope you can work something out.

Ask! I hear it is wonderful

My sister who is not a quilter keeps trying to get me to come out to MA and take a road trip with her to this store. She has fond memories of visiting with our mother who was a quilter! My sister tells me it is DEFINITELY worth the trip!

Having lived in both Michigan and New Hampshire, I can safely say that Keepsake is nothing like any quilt shop you have at home. Lots2do did a great job of mentioning the non-quilter attractions close by and that area of our fair state is absolutely gorgeous in any season. The scenery alone is worth the trip.

Just as a side note, New Hampshire also has a Quilt Sampler featured shop (2011) if you are going to be in the Henniker (Concord) area. It's called Quilted Threads. http://quiltedthreads.com/

Keepsake Quilting is well worth a detour. Also, there is a yarn shop next door so if your friend is a knitter he/she will love it. While there stop for lunch at Canoe (I am assuming it is still there - haven't been in a couple of years). Food is great and if weather is nice you can eat on the deck. Of course, the lake is beautiful and if you get there at the right time you might get tickets for a lake cruise.

It's a great store - very pretty and BIG! Lots of fabric - better than their catalog. Susan

I just ran across my picture of my husband and I sitting in the rocking chairs with the Keepsake Quilting sign behind us. All my siblings & spouses and my mother went back East several years ago. Only 3 of the 9 had any interest in quilting the rest drove to a nearby lake and did some site seeing. Beautiful area. Everyone enjoyed the time and we stopped up the street from Keepsake Quilting for ice cream cones - just soaked in the N.H. backwoodsey feel. I think it's definitely worth it. The store is not all that marvelous, tho it is wonderful, but it's the legend. Do take some pictures and buy a keepsake.

It is definitely worth the trip to go to Keepsake Quilting. Not only will you enjoy the scenic ride there, the mountains, lakes, trees, etc., etc., but you will have a glorious experience at Keepsake. The staff is very friendly, and you will not believe the variety of fabrics that they have, with the fabrics organized in such a way that you should be able to find anything you want. Lots of books, patterns, notions, plus fabrics, fabrics and more fabrics. Can you tell that I love Keepsake? I don't go as often as I might like, but before my arthritis limited my driving, I tried to make the pilgrimage at least once a year. Also in the area is the factory for Anna Lee dolls and many other areas of interest as well as restaurants with good food, particularly Maine lobsters. Can you tell that I live in NH? Well, originally I grew up in SD, moved to Omaha, NE, met my husband who was stationed there in the Air Force, then we moved to NH when he returned home from Viet Nam. He was a computer repairman in the Air Force, and back in the early 70's, the only places for computers were CA, MN and New England. Since he had already spent a very snowy winter in Minneapolis/St. Paul before he left for Viet Nam, and his parents were in New England, here is where we moved, and started our lives together. Hope you can make the detour to Keepsake Quilting, I think you will be glad that you did.

I would not even consider asking. I would tell them I'm going to Keepsake Quilting; I will have no time limits or distractions while there; I will stay as long as I like. I'd possibly try to be polite about it but it would be a "no exceptions" part of the trip. Hopefully she will like it, too; or like you enough that she will be happy for you to enjoy it.

I nearly always travel alone, and always do my limited "fun shopping" alone. The last trip we made to the east coast was in separate vehicles because I had shopping/sight seeing plans, and I did not want to risk not being able to escape from the MIL.

All travel is a two way street. Go to their suggestions and you suggest detours of your own. That is, unless there is another, specific agenda to the trip. Enjoy.

Just tell your friend that you would like to make the detour and ask her if there is something along the way that she would like to see or do that is outside of your planned route. You may be surprised by her answer.

WORTH the trip. If only one in a quilter's life, S he should go Actually the he's enjoy it too.

Thanks everyone...we will hitting a few main spots along our trip but mostly just hit or miss on the extras. My sis is not a quilter but she goes shopping with me..I mostly wanted to make sure it was worth a detour..for me as well as her!

That's how I do it when I travel. My friends and I make a list of places we'd each like to see. Additionally, we know we're free to wander around and go outside if we desire to see what's nearby...shops, gardens, wildlife etc. It's a win:win. I've been to really interesting places I would never have thought of seeing.

Yes, you have to go! It's a wonderful store and area. If I lived anywhere nearby I would go as often as possible! After the trip let us know what a wonderful time you had there ok? Enjoy!

While in Boston, be sure to stop in Wakefield Center (20 mins from Boston going north towards Keepsake) and visit Quilters' Common Quilt Shop. It is owned by two sisters, Colette and Antoinette, and they are the most lovely, friendly women. The shop is jam packed with fabric and supplies. You won't be disappointed.

My daughter in law worked there a few years ago...such a wonderful shop...I would say it's one of the best in New England...it's definitely worth the trip...

Can I go along? lol

Please consider in Maine checking out Maarten's (sp) They have about 13 stores in the state and 2 years ago 10 of them had fabric at great prices. Check out their website and is it worth a call to corporate to be sure which stores you will be near if they have fabric . I usually send 2 large boxes back then I get to go.
Have a wonderful time in Maine-- They have a quilt show I think in July-- you might want to check it out.

Have a wonderful time.