Hi all, I'm back looking for help with driving suggestions, restaurants, sight-seeing, and any other tips. All lodging and transport has been booked.
[if you haven't seen my other posts then here is a little about us: Family of 3 with 13 yr old girl from Chicago suburbs; 1st 7 days in Portugal; last 7 days in Spain; enjoy the outdoors/light adventure/animals; some history; food&wine; cute little towns; love music; art - not so much]
Here is our Spain itinerary: [Portugal posted separately]
Thu, Jun 12 –arrive Barcelona from Porto ~23:00 (apartment in Eixample near Sant Pau, private tranfer arranged)
Fri, Jun 13 – Barcelona (apartment)
Sat, Jun 14 – Barcelona (apartment)
Sun, Jun 15 – Barcelona; taxi to train station to pick up car (Hertz) mid morning; drive north to Costa Brava (Hotel Nieves Mar in L’Escala)
Mon, Jun 16 – Costa Brava (Hotel Nieves Mar)
Tue, Jun 17 – Head west into Pyrenees (Hotel Rural Can Cruells near Planolas; dinner reserved)
Wed, Jun 18 – Pyrenees (Hotel Rural Can Cruells)
Thu, Jun 19 – Drive back south to Penedes (Montserrat on way) (Azure Guest Villa near Vilafranca del Penedes in Olivella; dinner reserved)
Fri, Jun 20 – Drop car at airport; Fly out about noon
Looking forward to your tips and ideas. Thanks!

What more are you looking for?

Cadaques in Costa Brava is so picturesque and charming. My husband and i spent a day there in September. i highly recommend it.

I echo Robert2533 and where is your Portugal itinerary? DH and I are going to Portugal/Spain as well and I would be interested in reading where you have chosen to visit.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...xperiences.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-3-in-june.cfm

Travelling with a 13 year old, I guess you are looking for those special places that will stay in the memory.

Can Lluis and Ca L'Estevet are two small, traditional and family owned restaurants in Barcelona that could give you a real taste of the city and the atmosphere. Both are in the central, genuine and gentrifying Raval district just west of Las Ramblas.
Can Lluis: http://www.restaurantcanlluis.cat/
Ca L'Estevet: http://www.restaurantestevet.com/wpre/

Or have lunch at La Perla, a little above Poble Sec on the way up to Montjuic. Came over this place two years ago, doesn't get any more genuine than this. Fabulous stews that have cooked for hours and a lot of other Barcelona specialities. Unassuming, expensive and well worth every cent (mains 10-35€). http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html
http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.co...more-la-perla/

I really recommend a visit up at Muntjuic (Jewish mountain) with the castle, the museums, the theaters, the parks, the 1992 olympic arenas, and the best views of both the city and the sea. Lots of Barcelona history connected to the hill:
http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/Parc...XHP4btJkzuN28w

You can take the Telefèric (cable car) up here: http://www.tmb.cat/en/teleferic-de-montjuic