Day 2 Thursday 16 April 2009 Chicago
This morning we will have a tour of Chicago, the third largest city in the USA, with a local guide. We will see the Magnificent Mile, a part of Michigan Avenue, where exclusive shops line the wide boulevard. To the north we see the Fourth Presbyterian Church built in the Gothic Revival style. We see the one hundred storey John Hancock Centre and drive along Lake Shore Drive with wonderful views of lake Michigan. We will visit Windmill City Quilts, containing about three thousand five hundred bolts of fabric. They have a variety of fabric types, including Hoffman batiks. They also feature their own line of quilt patterns and have a flair for creative display with books and patterns grouped with appropriate fabrics. We travel to visit Stitches-N-Stuffing, a huge quilt store and Bernina dealer. The store is remarkable for the breadth and depth of its fabric, notion and book offerings. Early evening we will have a drinks party, where each tour member will introduce themselves and briefly state their quilting experience, if they have any. Michelle Marvig will give a short talk on her quilting experience. The tour manager will meet those wishing to dine with the group in the lobby.

Day 3 Friday 17 April 2009 Chicago
We will visit the Chicago Quilt Festival today. The festival has displays of award winning quilts and interesting classes are available. You need to book these classes individually.

Day 4 Saturday 18 April 2009 Chicago
We will visit the Arts Institute of Chicago, which has a large selection of textiles as well as a magnificent collection of European, Asian and American Art. This afternoon is free for individual activity perhaps shopping, or re-visiting the Chicago Quilt Festival.

Day 5 Sunday 19 April 2009 Amish Area of Indiana
Today we travel south to Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana. The centre of the city has been modernised and revitalised. We will visit Back Door Quilts, which is a full service quilt shop, with thousands of bolts of fabric including Moda, Benartex and RJR. We have time for individual lunch and exploration of the city, before visiting the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home. It is one of the United States’s finest examples of a Victorian home, and it remains almost as the noted Hoosier Poet left it. We travel to near Montgomery in the centre of the Amish area, where we will stay for three nights.

Day 6 Monday 20 April 2009 Amish Area of Indiana
This morning we will have a tour of a nearby Amish farmhouse and learn about the life of the Amish in this area. Amish and Mennonites, escaping religious persecution in the 18th century, settled in this area. Their descendants continue to turn their backs on the modern world. We will visit interesting shops related to the Amish way of life such as Wagler Amish Woodworking and Wagler Quilts and Crafts.

Day 7 Tuesday 21 April 2009 Amish Area of Indiana
Today we travel east to Corydon, which was the first capital of Indiana. In the centre of the city is the first capitol building, completed in 1816. We will visit many antique and collectible shops in this historic area. We return via Jasper, which is the centre of Germantown culture. We will have time to visit some of the many speciality shops in this interesting town.

Day 8 Wednesday 22 April 2009 Paducah
Today we travel to Paducah to arrive the day before the 25th annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest commences. On our journey we explore Huntingburg, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This charming Victorian town has more than two dozen antique and speciality shops providing interesting shopping. Michelle will meet those wishing to dine with the group in the lobby to have dinner together.

Day 9 Thursday 23 April 2009 Paducah
The 25th annual AQS Quilt Show and Contest opens today to the public. There will be a large number of classes, lectures and events that tour members will be able to attend. Book early, so that you are able to register for the classes and events of your choice. There will be classes offered in appliqué, design and all aspects of quilting.

Day 10 Friday 24 April 2009 Paducah
We will visit the AQS Quilt Show and Contest today. We will have time to browse among the displays and buy items for future quilting. This afternoon we visit Hancock’s Fabric Store, which has many different fabrics and supplies for the quilter. Group members will enjoy browsing among the fabrics on offer. This evening those wishing to dine with the group will meet the tour manager in the lobby.

Day 11 Saturday 25 April 2009 Paducah
This morning will be spent at the AQS Quilt Show and Contest, attending workshops and activities. This afternoon we will visit the Museum of American Quilting, which is home to many award winning and historic quilts. We will see over one hundred and fifty antique and contemporary quilts on display.

Day 12 Sunday 26 April 2009 Washington
We will travel through the green countryside of Kentucky to Nashville. We will have a sightseeing tour of Nashville with driver commentary. We see the Ryman auditorium, which was the home of the “Grand Ole Oprey” from1943 to 1974 – it is a shrine for country and western fans. We will fly to Washington late afternoon.

Day 13 Monday 27 April 2009 Washington
We have a city tour of Washington DC this morning. We will see the US Capital, where decisions on running the country are made, the White House, the Washington and Jefferson Monuments and Georgetown, which is Washington’s best neighbourhood. This afternoon we will visit GT Fabric Stores.

Day 14 Tuesday 28 April 2009 Washington
This morning we will visit the National Museum of American History, a part of the Smithsonian Institute. We will see remarkable antique quilts. In the afternoon we will visit the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, where we will have a private viewing of their fabulous collection of antique quilts.

Day 15 Wednesday 29 April 2009 Denver
This morning we will fly to Denver. The spectacular scenic beauty of the Rocky Mountains helps make Denver, one of the most appealing cities in the US. Upon arrival we shall be transferred to our hotel. We will have a city tour with a local guide, visiting the State Capitol Dome and the Denver Museum of Natural History. The rest of the day shall be spent relaxing and enjoying the facilities of the hotel. In the evening we will have a get together. Michelle Marvig will give a short talk on buying antique quilts. We will stay in Denver for two nights.

Day 16 Thursday 30 April 2009 Denver
Denver is a centre for skiing in the winter and hiking, camping and fishing in the summer. Today we will have a full day visiting fabric and quilt shops. We will visit Harriet’s Treadle Art quilt shop in the morning. This store is owned and run by Harriet Hargraves, machine quilter extraordinaire and author of several books on this subject. We will have time for lunch at Golden, and to visit the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum before returning to Denver. We will enjoy an included farewell dinner this evening to celebrate the end of a wonderful quilting tour.

Day 17 Friday 1 May 2009 In flight
We will have the morning free for independent activity. In the afternoon we visit the Great American Quilt Factory Store for our last chance to purchase fabric before transferring to the airport for our flight to Los Angeles and on to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Day 18 Saturday 2 May 2009 In flight

Day 19 Sunday 3 May 2009 Australia
We arrive in Australia today and tour arrangements conclude.