What are your recommendations for the best shops in your region?
There is also a few other really big stores in the LA area that I don't know the names of. If you wanted to hit all the nice shops in that area, you'd have to stay for at least few days because of how spread out they are.
My favorite place to shop for glass was Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley, CA... there is A TON of shops all on one strip so close that you can just walk the strip and hit them all in one day. Some are big and some very small. They are all competing with each-other for your business so that makes for some decent prices.
I've herd many good stories of people finding great shops in the smaller coastal towns, that would be just one of many reasons to drive up or down the beautiful California coast.
If I was doing this, I would also search for any shops that are owned by glass blowers... for the chance to see glass that isn't available anywhere else and for great prices.
This sounds like a lot of fun, please take pictures if you can and report back after your trip.