Avoiding the heat in July-France, Italy or Spain?

You might think about a visit to the Alps in Switzerland. I was there this past June and it was cool. I am not sure how warm the mountains can get but I would think anything costal area the area you mentioned would be quite hot the end of July.
There is always England? Norway? Though I almost melted in Bern one visit in June.

I'm not an expert in this subject, but from what I've read, the Basque country along the coast (both French and Spanish sections) should be reasonable in the summer.

Going north is one answer - Scandinavia, Scotland, Ireland, etc. If these places don't tempt you, go up - into mountains. For Italy, look at the Dolomites; for France, the French Alps.

If you're willing to make most of your own meals, the Swiss Alps should work fine; if you want to eat out, it could be financially ruinous for two families. Many costs in Switzerland, including restaurants, are very high, but supermarkets are reasonable. There are some places in the Berner Oberland you could get with a kitchen, and that would be a lovely vacation.

It's going to be hot in all of your favorite countries in August. You can moderate this a little by staying on the coast. Anywhere else south of, say, the Loire, plan a midday siesta or indoor break.

In my experience (summer of 2016), temperatures along and near the northern coast of Spain from the Basque Country west to Galicia are mostly quite moderate. You'll see surfers wearing wetsuits even in mid-summer. There are some interesting towns along the Basque Coast that would make nice day trips from Bilbao or San Sebastiam, and the countryside is very nice.

Staying at altitude will also work. You could select a village in the Dolomites and take a day trip to Bolzano (which can get quite hot) to see the Iceman in the local museum and the very pretty historic district.

We spent a week in Wengen in the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland and the temps were perfect. Slight chill in the morning but warmed up quickly. Warm enough for shorts in the afternoon. I agree with Harold, if you eat out it can get stupidly expensive. We rented a small apartment and self catered which saved a ton of money. In the mountains, you will not have to pay to see sights, hiking is free, but will have to pay for the transportation to the sights. So to us it balances out. We spent 28 SFR for childrens chicken nuggets and fries in Murren on the opposite side of the valley on our first trip. On our second, we cooked for ourselves, except for buying sandwiches for picnic lunches in the grocery store every day.

We were in Rome and Venice three years ago and the temperatures felt like home (South Georgia, USA). Two years ago, we went to Munich to the same heat and humidity. This year we are heading to Austria.

Italy will be hot unless you head to altitude.

For more temperate climes, head to northern France - Brittany, Normandy etc or northern Spain. It can rain a lot in northern Spain, which it is so green, but the Picos are stunning. The one thing I don't like about Spain are their dining hours - I don't want lunch at 3-4 pm and dinner at midnight!

Thanks to all of you for your advice. You have confirmed what I suspected about seeking cooler weather. I will be exploring the Basque Country and Switzerland and probably be back with more questions!

The Basque country and Galicia (and many of the places in between) are beautiful and would be cooler than some of the other areas. There are some really interesting places to stay and explore on and around the Camino Frances, the main Camino de Santiago route. Pamplona, Leon, Burgos, and Santiago de Compostela come to mind. And those places along the pilgrim route will have dinner options that open around 7 or 8, so you don't have to eat dinner as late! Have fun!

For a less expensive Alpine option, take a look at the Dolomites. Switzerland is VERY expensive! We have been both to the Berner Oberland and the Dolomites. We honestly like the Dolomites much better. In Ortisei you can take the cable car up to the Alpe Di Siusi and hike and hike and hike.

Aside from this, I would say that you should look for A/C wherever you go. I have been in London when it was 90 degrees and it was miserable. Having a place of reprieve at your hotel can really help.

Have you looked at Annecy France? Great alpine lakeside village, plenty to do for the kids and adults alike.
Average July temps 72-80. Hour from Chamonix, 1 1/2 from both Geneva and Lyon, flights into both cities.

I rented a chalet in the small Italian Alpine community of Rabbi for a week one summer. I can confirm what others have written, temperatures were uncomfortably hot in the cites at lower elevation, but very pleasant up in the mountains. It even dropped below freezing one night. So, if you want Italy in the summer, but not the heat, look into renting a property somewhere in the Alps. Also, it will be significantly cheaper than Switzerland.

... and one note on terminology. I often see the "Dolomites" used on this website to refer to the Italian Alps in general, but actually, this is just one subrange of the country's rather extensive Alpine territory. So. don't limit your searches only to the Dolomite region.

Some options to get decent weather in July include the Alpine areas of France or Italy. In the major cities it may be bearable or it may be really hot.

Northern Spain's Atlantic coast is best in July and August, a really good option. Other times of the year it's rainy and chilly. You can add some of the mountain areas in northwestern Spain, it's less likely to be unbearable than southern Spain