Intro: Phoenix BC and Convention question

Hey all! I am a long time board game fan, and newbie game designer-hopeful, with a bunch of ideas and only the recent realization that I could actually bring some of them to life. I hope to introduce some of them to you as I flesh them out and play test them. I grew up outside Boston (Go Pats!!) but now live out in the land of large trees and endless waterfalls: North central Oregon. Anyone else from the PNW on here? To start I have a question for the group: What is your preferred game convention and why? I have only been to one: PAX East, several years ago, and have only recently learned about the wide variety of them that exist. Thoughts or opinions?