I would choose the Alpujarras region tho' it will be chillier than Antequera.

Hooray for you!

I am not surre that I can be of much help but I have driven thru the Orgiva area. If I recall it an area of small farms and villages. My imprssion was that it was not terribly prosperous but rather it was populated by families who had been on the land for generations and were going to make it work one way or the other. In my book, that says a lot for the area. You've the plus that it is not far to Granada and not far to the coast.

I took the road from Lanjaron on up to Capiliera. The latter part was a bit hairy for my style. But it was beautiful. The main road from Lanjaron to Capiliera seemed to be a bit touristy - not surprising because it is so spectacular. However, I have no doubt that in Orgiva it would be more quiet. It is indeed a beautiful area and not too far from the coast.

I would have no problems with spending 3 months there but it may be a bit of challenge keeping those kids occupied.

I hope I have not been too negative. It is a beautiful area. And my sense is you will be in "Spain", not "tourist Spain". And three months there in my youth would done me a great deal of good.

I am reallyinterested in your adventure. If you like, deep me osted at weber6560@aol.com

Larry

So how did you get on with the Visa, how will you get on with the "importation " of your Dog?
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/2-3-month-family-spain-experience-suggestions-and-advice.cfm

yes Aspen is ASPEN. No place like it. Stay there.

Las Alpujarras is great nature and an alternative and bohemian Spain that has become very, very popular with foreigners looking for something completely different.
http://www.spain-holiday.com/blog/bohemian-days-in-orgiva-las-alpujarras-granada.php
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/650ac/40727/

Ex-Genesis drummer Chris Stewart lives in the region, and his novel "Driving over lemons" is a must for anyone thinking of spending some months here. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatlife/8476291/Chris-Stewart-still-driving-over-lemons.html

http://www.rusticaltravel.com/spanish-villas-with-swimming-pools-%7C-villa-with-pool-in-rural-spain/villa-rental/andalucia-alpujarras/ap342.html

Órgiva might be what you're looking for, but you should know that at "a rough guess, the first language of, maybe, a quarter of the population, is … English." http://www.rusticblue.com/locations_las_alpujarras_orgiva.htm

It's also known for New Age culture, alternative lifestyles etc. http://www.andalucia.com/province/granada/orgiva/home.htm

Could be an experience, but it would be far away from "Spain".

Kimhe those are indeed my concerns about Orgiva. It may be too influenced by foreigners like me! What does appeal is the hiking and mountain biking and beautiful countryside at the doorstep as well as the range of accommodation choices. Would there be better low altititude towns in Las Alpurrajas? Unfortunately if we opt for rural beauty we may lose out on opportunities to interact with local people. Around Antequera are there lots of hiking and mountain biking trails? So far just finding road biking. Also worrying that Antequera might be too big to get to know people in only 3 months. Any other suggestions of places in Spain to investigate? Maybe a little bigger than Orgiva and smaller than Antequera. Thanks again! And I have looked at the links you've kindlykindly posted and have the books out of the library.
Re: dog and visa its going OK. Applying for a 6 month visa.

There are several smaller villages in the Alpujarras, but then we talk of max 5-700 inhabitants.

I think you should consider Alhama de Granada, some 50 km south-west of Granada and pop about 6000. Fabulous landscapes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhama_de_Granada
photos: http://www.google.no/search?q=Alhama+de+Granada&hl=no&prmd=imvnsfd&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=bVDDT5iUH8n4sgbG78n0Cg&ved=0CIMBELAE&biw=1366&bih=600
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suk_-RNXfJM

Even better perhaps, Arcos de la Frontera (pop some 28 000). Close to both Jerez and Cadiz (with fabulous beaches) and not too far from Sevilla.

photos: http://www.google.no/search?q=arcos+de+la+frontera&hl=no&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n1LDT9uII4zJsgbbmqjwCg&sqi=2&ved=0CHwQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=600
video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he9ckxX73gA

Again, what great suggestions. Both look so beautiful. Thank-you! I am researching now. I definitely think that while being out in the countryside would be idyllic, and I have seen some beautiful long-let villas, it would make more sense to be on the edge of, or in a small town in order to meet people and feel a sense of daily Spanish village or town life while still enjoying our outdoor pursuits. The search continues and there is a chance our stay in Spain may be bumped to October - mid-December, not Sept - to end of November so we do have to keep weather and rain(?) in mind. I have read that the more western part of Andalucia gets more rainfall. Rain is something we have had more of our share of here in the Pacific Northwest!

Normally increasing rainfall Oct - Des, but you can still expect a lot of fine, warm and sunny weather.

Málaga is on the coast not far from any of the locations you are looking into, and even if there are varieties inland and east vs. west, the november statistiscs for Málaga for the past 15 years might give you an indication. It says:

Daily highs 18°C - 22°C (64-72F) and night lows 9°C - 14°C. 7 days with some rainfall, and an average of 6 hours sun pr. day. http://www.wetteronline.de/cgi-bin/regframe?3&PRG=cityklima&ART=MAX&CONT=euro&WMO=08482&LANG=de&BKM=Spanien/Malaga

Good luck with your search!

In the thread linked below you said you "are mid-process of getting a long stay visa." However, you did not specify which country that visa is for. So, where is that visa for?
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/5031043523/m/436005907001

TonyBishop - it doesn't matter which country issues the visa - it is good for the whole of the Schengen zone.
I'm just glad they are getting visas, not assuming the 90 day rule doesn't apply to them as so many posters here seem to do.

They will be in Spain for less than 90 days so don't need a visa.

@hetismij2. Really? You mean that a long stay visa issued by Spain applies to the whole of the other Schengen Area countries?

Do you have any evidence, as in website links, to support that? That is the first time I have ever heard of that if your assertion is true.

@Bedar. Yes, I agree with you. And that is why I asked the question about the application for a "long stay visa".

I use quotation marks because there is no such thing as a "long stay visa". There are visas that entitle the successful applicant to stay longer than 90 days but, in the case of Spain, they have other names such as these.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION FOR DEPENDANTS OF NON EUROPEAN UNION NATIONALS.
WORK VISAS / WORK PERMITS FOR NON EU NATIONALS
RESIDENCE VISA FOR NON PROFITABLE ACTIVITIES
VISA FOR STUDY PURPOSES
RESIDENCE VISA: FAMILY REUNIFICATION FOR DEPENDANTS OF EUROPEAN UNION NATIONALS.
Source: http://www.maec.es/es/MenuPpal/Consulares/ServiciosConsulares/InformacionaExtranjeros/Visados/Paginas/visados2010.aspx