Another chance to spend a week in Madrid and would like some recommendations for visiting Chinchon and Avila -- day trips. Have been to Toledo, Segovia, and some other smaller towns and have heard some nice things about Chinchon and Avila. Would love to hear and impressions, recommendations for eating and shopping, or any other advice. Thanks so much.

Chinchon is a very nice town to visit, but there is not much to see, you may combine it with nearby Aranjuez.
Restaurant in Chinchon: La Iberia, in the Plaza.
Avila is a good daytrip. I ate at the Parador as it has parking, another feat in Avila. I see it is reccomended Barbacana (with a parking in the square) and El Almacen (on the outskirts, road to Salamanca).

We found Chinchon delightful, but josele is right that there isn't a lot there. We went by bus in the morning and enjoyed sitting on the very quaint "plaza mayor" for a while with coffee and pastries. We walked up to the old "fort" but it is closed. Still had some nice views. Did a walk around town and then had a WONDERFUL lunch at the Parador which is right in town.
After lunch we took a bus back to Madrid.

Another fun day trip was by train to Alcala de Henares, which is a world heritage site. Again we had a WONDERFUL lunch at the Parador there. Also enjoyed touring some of the Cervantes sites including his birthplace and museum, and there is a fascinating outdoor theatre in town called the "Corral de Comedias". The archeology museum there is also well worth a visit.
We easily spent the full day there before taking a train back.

While we enjoyed Chinchon, we enjoyed Alcala de Henares even more.

i think you will be most impressed with alcalá de henares. do not miss the cervantes birthplace home/museum.
it has been done very well and is in such a lovely building.

check out the steeples and spires as i have never seen so many storks' nestsw as one finds in most tons in castilla.
i got tired of trying to count them.

avila is also interesting and chinchón IF you need another trip off the beaten track.

everyone´s comments are right on.

I don't know Chinchon. We went to Avila as a day trip from Madrid last summer. Of course, we walked on the walls. We went to Santa Teresa's house , that was very special. Had lunch of tapas in the parador, outside in the garden overlooking the walls, Very nice.
I highly recommend Avila.

Chinchon was merely a nice stop on our way to Cuenca, a beautiful little town with a great parador and a modern art museum housed in the hanging houses.
Avila and it's parador were a great experience. I would also go to Escorial as a day trip. Salamanca is too far for a day trip, but a wonderful overnight stay, as the town is particularly beautiful when the old cathedral and university buildings are lit up.

I forgot: visit the palace at Aranjuez, with it's beautiful gardens. That's pretty close to Madrid, but we had a car and I don't have instructions for you using public transport.

aranjuez was the summer residence of the past kings of spain. the royal naval museum houses the boats used to transport them from el palacio real to this summer palace.

it is a charming town, and famous for strawberries and asparragus (seasonal).

Instead Chinchon you can do a great day trip: Salamanca.
Check out this site:
www.salamanca.es

Thanks to all of you for these great suggestions. I'll be sure to report back! Thanks.

Salamanca is wonderful, but I agree with Aleta - I think its too far from Madrid for an easy day trip. It is, however, a great place to spend a night or two (IMHO). Enjoy!