northern Spain with kids 4 a month
 

I am planning to take my family, including two kids ages 7 & 4, to Spain for August. The goals are to accelerate their Spanish development, have daily access to a beach, and learn about a foreign culture. I'm debating between Santander and San Sebastian. Thoughts, opinions, musings... because you too can't sleep? Thanks!

Interesting choice!

Much as I enjoyed San Sebastian, I was not enamored of it, and since it is a major resort destination in Spain's Basque region, I'm not sure it would be the best place for your stated goals. (Not that it would be bad! It would certainly give regular access to beaches and might be of particular interest because of its Basque heritage.)

Santander also has some lovely beaches and is within day-trip distance of some stunning locations.

I'll be interested to learn what others have to say!

Santander !!

Given your goals, San Sebastian would be as close you come to perfect. Three of the finest city beaches on the continent and a very distinct culture that people are very proud of. And it's all on display during the Aste Nagusia/Semana Grande/Big Week from August 13 to 20. Should be great fun for both kids and adults: http://www.euskoguide.com/basque-cul...semana-grande/

I have lived here and visited almost every year since 1987. A month will make you fall in love with San Sebastian and its dramatic history as well as the Basque region in general. Beautiful landscapes and fine villages both inland and along the rugged coast.
http://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/
http://tourism.euskadi.eus/basque-coast/

Culinary capital of Spain: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...y-for-foodies/
Beaches: http://www.sansebastian.co.uk/beaches/
With kids (playgrounds all around town, full of kids and parents until dark): http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...-with-children
https://www.hlondres.com/en/concierg...-with-children
European capital of culture 2016: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...asque-country/

Opening of the Aste Nagusia in Donostia/San Sebastian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-u_pgFy_8

Gigantes y cabezudos (giants and big-heads): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URXnLK-9kyI

International fireworks competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXuXT1zXSkk

DSS 2016, European capital of culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRWCdjw1C8Q

San Seb

I agree, Sanse has so much more from a traditional tourist perspective, but I wasn't sure about it with kids. Ideally I would find some camps or athletic programming for the kids in the afternoon so they can be with other children to advance their Spanish through play. Sanse has a clear advantage from food and cultural activities but Santander is more of a local tourist destination. Not sure which I prefer - more cultural and gastronomy variety or more of a Spanish (and less international) experience....?

We spent a few days in Sanse [nice abbreviation, El J!] a very long time ago, and what I most remember is the massive thunderstorm that hit the town one day. But the beach was great and the food was better.

It also struck me as a nicer place to spend a prolonged period of time than Santander, though we only saw that for an hour or so on the way to the ferry so perhaps not a fair comparison.

Lucky you and lucky kids, anyway, to have such a choice.

Enjoy!

<Ideally I would find some camps or athletic programming for the kids in the afternoon so they can be with other children to advance their Spanish through play>

Some organized activities for kids up to twelve years in San Sebastian, with and without parents: https://www.donostia.eus/info/ciudad...=A337696343204

Local kids are in playgrounds all around town almost all day. In the daytime there are lots of kids playing and swimming on the Odaretta beach (also a kids swimming pool here), and every now and then the beach areas are made into football fields where kids play. And some ten large playgrounds around fairly small San Sebastian: https://citymaps.com/r/spain/euskal-...n/c/playground

The old carousel in the playgrounds in the Alderdi Eder park, just in front of the town hall and looking out on the La Concha bay, is extremely popular. http://www.diariodelviajero.com/espa...ce-en-donostia

Kids met and played in the exact same spot in 1925 also, looks very much the same today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9obbbqmmyU