My family and I are traveling to Spain in late november early december. We are considering Cuenca, Valencia, Barcelona (side trip to Montserrate), Andorra, Lourdes (FR) and then into the Spanish Pyrenees for a few days, before taveling to Covadonga and Asturias for the end of our trip. Any comments on general weather, impassable roads, towns not to miss in Huesca or similar. Would love any comments. This will be our third trip, we have previously spent 19 and 14 days in south, west and central Spain, never these areas. Obviously, it will be "cool" in the mountains but has anyone done any hiking at that time? I was considering one hike in a National Park and the Gorge near Covadonga (only part way ). Just so you can understand our level of insanity, this is a typical trip for us, and yes there will be a 3 and 5 year old and and 83 year old along for the fun. Thank you in advance.

B&A

The autumn tints are at their best in October in Pyrenees and November in Picos de Europa (Covadonga). After that everything becomes a little miserable, at least to me it is.
I recommend Valley of Ordesa or Valley of Chistau in Pyrenees. And Lakes of Covadonga is a nice area in the National park of Picos de Europa.
You will find the Huesca (Aragon) and Covadonga (Asturias) routes from here: http://www.topwalks.net/en/index.htm
You will find route descriptions in English, maps, GPS waypoints, driving instructions, pretty much everything. Also by watching the photos you can see, where the autumn tints are at their best.
Also the routes are graded by length, total climb, walkability etc. so it is easy to pick a suitable route for your level. And there are all kinds of routes on that site.
If you decide to walk the Valley of Ordesa routes, I recommend you to stay in Torla. If you want to visit several valleys like Benasque, Chistau and Ordesa, you better stay in Ainsa.
Covadonga really is a place to see. We were there in November last year!

Forget walking as there could be snow in the mountains at that time of year.
As a general note about weather you will find it very variable but no high temps.
The age variations are great so I would assume you will not be walking too far.
How are you travelling? And how long is your trip?
The first weekend in December in Spain is a huge public holiday so you will have to book up your accommodation.
Give us much more details and hopefully we can give you some better ideas.

Walksntalks
Thank you those are some good suggestions, I will look at and get back to you. My wifes family is from Asturias so we have been there and through the Picos once (entire month of July spent in a grand figure eight of Spain). Only spent a few hours in Covadonga but want to spend a day in and around.

Ribeirasacra,
We will rent a car in Madrid and be driving everyplace. We have a Kelty carrier for the youngest and I can hike a while with one in the carrier and one on my shoulders or my wife can carry the carrier. I am a bit concerned about snow but a few hours of hiking would be nice whatever the temp is (no sure the mother in law is up for it, but then I can hike on my own or with the wife) and mother in law will entertain the youngest. We will most likely be with Family the last 3 or 4 days of the trip so that will eliminate most problems with a hotel but did not know about the public holiday, that is very good to know.
This same group has hiked colorado, arizona (including into the canyon though only about 2/3 of the way down and out in same day, and plan on hiking but will redetermine if weather gets iffy.)

Mostly looking for something in Aragon and the mountains to get a feel for the country see some of the mountains and relax with the family (obviously my idea of relaxing could involve significant excercise and driving)

Our last trip to spain was in November also, over thanksgiving like this one, and it was very nice to have limited crowds everywhere, no lines to wait in, one of these days we will need to spend some time in the summer and hit a beach but not this time, this will be more of a coat wearing trip it seems.

Thanks again for your input

Waterproofs will be a good idea. But you never know: So bring some layers to wear underneath. But I feel now I am teaching you to suck eggs here as it sounds as if you have got things organised on the walking front.
Yep Thanks Giving is only celebrated by the Americans so it will be quiet in Europe. The dates for the national holiday are: 4th to 8th December. I work in the industry and that is when we have high season prices. I would suggest that all the other accommodations will too.
Are you going to drive in BCN? I live in Spain and I would avoid cities like Madrid and BCN.
If you do not need to return the car back to Madrid then maybe head north to Asturias then along the coast; into the mountains; over the border to France and drop the car outside BCN. That way you will not have to back track on yourself.
If you are really pressed for time maybe drop Asturias off the route seeing that you have been there before. How long is the trip for?

I don´t know how big a place are you looking into for Aragon, but Jaca could be a good base for your plans. Not so near from Ordesa, but there is plenty of hiking around and plenty to do in town.

www.jaca.com

If there isn´t snow, I like the hike up the Peña Oroel just above Jaca. But there are plenty of places to walk in the region.

Regards, Cova

ribeirasaca

the trip is 14 days, I agree with the driving i only rent to leave madrid, and hope to not drive in BCN very much, in find hotel and out. I refused to drive in Paris when we went and stick by that completely. Never been to BCN so need to be there, I have not yet considered public transportation but like most americans shun it with passion, because we can I guess. Looked up the holidays, never even thought about them until you mentioned appreciate it very much. Other thoughts have been to reverse trip and fly into BCN rent car and end up at Madrid airport only to fly back to US.

Teaching me to suck eggs, now that is a custom I have not tried, ROTFL.

Using a car really helps a visitor to get into the country. It will also help if you deicide to stay awhile at a location too (no timetables to adhere too).
What ever way around you do the trip should prove no problem. I have been trying to find out if Covadonga will be extremely busy over the public holiday here. One day is a “Constitutional Day” and I cannot find on line any information as to whether there is anything official in the area that day.
As a side note Covadonga holds a special place for me and the wife as we was treated very nicely after trying to help some farmers. It was the first place we had our taste of cidra too. The real home brew stuff.
OK where to next?

ribeirasacra

Cidra as you say holds a special place for us also, it is nearly impossible for me with High School spanish to speak as well as I wish I could and yet make no time for. My wifes relatives are 60 or so and my poor spanish and he spoke no english yet we discussed how to make Cidra. I will always remember and laugh, as I thought we would come to blows, as I kept asking how do you do this or that, and when it came to fermentation, I asked if he "added" yeast, he replied no yeast. I thought he ment he did not add any, so i asked is it wild yeast just in the air, NO NO yeast. So I asked how the alcohol gets in the bottle, NO alcohol. I quickly dropped the line of questioning, but even now have a huge smile, completely amazed that he has made this drink for nearly a century and has no idea what chemically happens to make the drink, from his own apples. You are right also about the home made stuff, the store bought is terrible.

walksntalks

sorry for long delay, I do appreciate all the help and comments. Valley of Ordesa (this is definitely on the list so long as weather does not prevent us) or Valley of Chistau (still looking into)

Cova

Is that as in Covadonga, one of my wifes relatives goes by Cova, her brother is Pelayo. I like the Jaca site, that is where i need to spend some research time now, what to do and where to do it. Thanks for your input.