SheriV

My husband and are are heading to San Sebastián at the end this month visit our son who is studying there. We are thinking about driving to Barcelona via the Northern route to see a little more countryside. We'd like to spend one night on the way. We enjoy nice accommodations, wonderful food along with local non- touristy villages. What is the best route and use of time to break up this drive and make the most of our time.

kimhe

The weather can be pretty rough in the Pyrenees in November, be prepared for snowstorms etc. http://www.sott.net/article/268942-S...n-the-Pyrenees

Perhaps stop overnight in beautiful little Torla, magnificent views over the majestic Monte Perdido. http://hitchhikershandbook.com/2012/08/03/torla-spain/

Once had an excellent Trucha a la Navarra in Torla (don't remember the name of the restaurant), Navarra trout with cured ham: http://spanishfood.about.com/od/main...chanavarra.htm

And when in San Sebastian, I recommend a meal in my favourite restaurant in town since the late 80's, Casa Urola (among the "normal" restaurants that is, Arzak and Akelarre etc are of course another league). New chef Pablo Loureiro took over a couple of years ago, but same sky high standard as ever (he's considered one of the absolute best grill chefs in all of the Basque Country). This is the kind of place locals take new visitors to show what the San Sebastian food culture is all about. Same waitress last September as when I first visited in 1987 or 1988.
http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/es/portada/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...e_Country.html

Egbert

I would go through Zaragoza and spend a night in Logrono.

Robert2533

Logonño doesn't make sense. It's 2-1/2 hours southwest of San Sebastian-Donostia.

If you want to take the northern route, you can head to Jaca through Pamplona on the N-240. You can then that the N-260 east, or head down to Huesca.

There will be snow in the higher elevations, but nothing to worry about until later in the month.

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/La-Molina

SheriV

Thank you Kimhe and Robert2533 so much! If its a too late to go north, where else do you recommend we stop along the way?
We are very flexible.
I also appreciate the restaurant recommendations. We'll be in San Sebastián for a week and want to take our son and his friends out for his 21st birthday. So looking for something special and fun!

kimhe

If you are used to drive in snow and the car has got winter tires, definitely go through the Pyrenees.

A gourmet pintxos tour of the Parte vieja/Old town could be special and fun for the birthday. Start out with the famous prawn skewer at Goiz-Argi, then on to excellent Borda-Berri Close by in the same street (Fermin Calbeton). Head for plain fabulous La Cuchara de San Telmo before perhaps finishing off in Astelehena right on the main square (Plaza de la Constitucion).

And remember, the pintxos on display are delicious, but (also) ask for the freshly made warm house specialities.

Goiz-Argi: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...e_Country.html
Borda-Berri: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...e_Country.html
La Cuchara de San Telmo: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...ry.html#photos
Astelehena: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...ry.html#photos

And Akelarre or Arzak, or any of the other Michelin restaurants, would of course be spectacular. Have had two of the best meals in my life at Arzak, consistently ranked among the top ten restaurants in the world for more than twenty years. But the Arzak nights were topped a year ago in Akelarre. The Hake and its Kokotxa with Oyster and Oyster Leaf is probably the best thing I've ever eaten. http://www.akelarre.net/public_home/ctrl_home.php

And I can recommend a no fuss traditional Basque three course lunch with drinks included for 11€ at La Zurri. Very popular with locals: http://www.restaurantelazurri.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...e_Country.html

Hope your son enjoys San Sebastian. I had the time of my life when I studied here 18 years ago. I visit all the time, of course.

Robert2533

If you have the time, you can drive through the foothills of the Pyrenees. The N-260 out of Jaca will take you to Castejón de Sos, in the Benasque Valley in Huesca province, where hang gliding is very popular when the weather is nice and sunny. The current weather projections for the Benasque Valley in late November is cool and sunny, wth a little rain.

You could spend the night at the Hotel Plaza Pirineos (www.hotelplazapirineos.com/en/). But you'll need to book ahead as it only has 18 rooms. There is also the Hotel Diamo, with 13 rooms (http://www.hoteldiamo.com).

From there you can continue on the N-260 to La Seu d'Urgell, spending the night at the Parador (http://www.parador.es/en/paradores/p...la-seu-durgell).

You can then head down to Barcelona via Ripoll and Vic or through Berga, both are beautiful drives.

Robert2533

For dining in or near Castojón de Sos, you can try restaurante Chongastán in the nearby Chía at Fondevila, 8 (www.chongastan.com). We enjoyed lunch there on our last trip through the area.

In La Seu d'Urgell you can try La Taverna dels Norgurs (tavernadelsnoguers.com/en/restaurant/), which is a few miles down the N-260, or for something a bit more upscale, there is the Restaurante Tàpies in the Hotel Castell (http://www.hotelelcastell.com/es/res...-urgell/tapies).

And there is always the Parador, which offers an excellent breakfast as well as dinner.