Hello again,

I've read through the replies and making notes. Wow! it's making me so excited about the trip!

Initially I thought we'd stay in one place for 5 or 6 days. However, after reading the posts I do see the merit of flying in to Bayonne/Biarritz, making it a home base for 3 days, then making Donostia next home base for 2 days.

One point to factor in:
After our time in the Basque country we need to get ourselves to Barcelona for the second segment of our family trip (the cruise part).

Looks like there are convenient quick flights from Bilbao or Donostia.

Potential itinerary, then, is to fly in to Bayonne, rent a car so we have the flexibility to explore, then at the conclusion of our time in Donostia, fly directly to Barcelona.

You'll have more flight options flying from Bilbao to Barcelona.

As far as the rental car goes (check with Auto Europe), if you pick it up in Bayonne, you'll have to drop it off on the French side, say Hendaye, to save the steep drop-off charge, and take the TOPO, bus, taxi or arrange for a private transfer into San Sebastián.

A private transfer from Hendaye or Irun to Donostia would be around 40€, about the price of a taxi.

Rober2016, Thank you for the information about rental car drop off considerations.

Ok, I have the information from my sister regarding towns where our grandparents were born or last lived before emigrating to the US:

Lacarre
Urepel
Baigorry (St Etienne)
Gamarthe

Looks like they are within 15 minutes of each other in the Basque country, France.

Yes, all are within Basse-Navarre, Nafarroa Beherea in Euskara. Urepel is about as close to Navarra as they get, a few minutes from the "border" following the D-58/NA-138 leading to Pamplona.

If you head up toUrepel, there is a great little family restaurant in the small village of Bance, Erreguina, where you can stop for lunch. The drive over the mountain pass into Navarra is beautiful.

There is also a local cheese maker, La Fromagerie d'Urepel that makes great sheep's milk cheese from the "manech tête noire", black headed sheep

Thank you, Robert2016, for the tips on where to eat!

Do you know if these four towns are within ~1 hour drive or so of Bayonne?

What I envision is that we would do 2 full "driving-around" days to explore, eat, do some walking/hiking.
We may want a local guide so we can fully appreciate the people, language and culture.

Urepel Is about a 1-1/2 hour drive from Bayonne, so it's close, but I would allow for a little more driving time since you are not used to the roads.

Thank you, Robert2016.
I'm thinking over two full days we'll be able to explore in a leisurely manner.

We always try to be in Saint-Jean-Pied-Port on market day, but any day should work.