I know this type of post can be annoying, but I need a third opinion here. We have decided at the last minute to book a family trip to Europe and I am having a hard time deciding where to go. We went to Italy in the summer of '01 and visited Venice and then spent a week in a half in Tuscany. We have been to Paris twice, London once, Barcelona and the Lot Valley in France and Amsterdam.

Thoughts are: Provence region of France, southern Italy (Amalfi coast area)or Greece (Athens and the greek Isles). Our favorite trips combine a little sight seeing with a week in a rented villa/apartment. The kids are 15 and 19, the hubby and son LOVE the ocean and we all love good food.

love the ocean and good food, like sightseeing...I say Amalfi Coast. Fantastic Italian food - including wonderful seafood, beautiful ocean views, swimming, and sightseeing to coastal towns and Pompeii.
However, you dont say WHEN you are going - so I wouldnt recommend it unless you are going during the warm weather months.

Sorry - i thought I had included that b/c this is important. Mid-June is the time frame.

I am worried that Greece will be too crowded during the summer months. I know that for the rest of Europe June is the "shoulder" season" so it's not too busy.

Croatia would fit your criterion - it is stunning.

Not too many people here consider Portugal.
But, the Portugal coast is stunning. It is warm, even in June.
It is very reasonable and you can rent wonderful apartments right on the beach.

I have heard wonderful things about Croatia, but how does one get there? What about language barriers?

I've heard great things about the coast of Croatia also. Unfortunately I have never been so I can't help with that.

Consider Portugal. It is lovely. I only visited the coast around Lisbon, but it was beautiful. And you can hop a flight from the mainland to its island (Madeira Island). Madeira Island was like paradise to me!