My friend and I have visited Paducah twice but not during the quilt show. We love the museum and shopping at Hancocks, lots of fbric but not many bargains. Next year when my friend retires we are going to come the the show.
Live near Houston and had a good friend that owned a LQS and went with her several times in the early 1990's and didn't go back until two years ago. It has gotten so big, it is overwhelming. The quilts are amazing. The reason I went this year is to buy Alto's Quilt Cutting System and check out some other things (also I rode our Guild bus) we went on preview night when it was not as crowded. I try not to buy anything I can get at a LQS.