base out of Lucca, CT, or elsewhere?

What do you want to visit on the coast (by the way Lucca is not on the coast)?
Just sit there sunbathing or day tripping somewhere? Driving to the Cinque Terre is not ideal in July, as parking might be an issue. Also the Cinque Terre is not a good base for day tripping by car. Actually the Cinque Terre is not ideal for cars. The best is just get there, park and leave the car in the parking lot the whole time. But if you just to enjoy the sea and stay there, the CT is a nice place to be. Just park your car (Monterosso and Riomaggiore have parking lot) and just stay put. But don't use the Cinque Terre as a car base if you intend to drive in and out from there during those 3 days to take day trips elsewhere. If your intention is to drive around to places (Lucca, Pisa, etc.) while you stay on the coast those 3 days, I suggest the Versilia area. Any seaside resort town from Viareggio to Marina di Carrara is good. Forte dei Marmi is probably the most prestigious (lots of fancy people there), Viareggio is also nice. Both have easy access to the A12 freeway from which you can reach the Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca or anywhere you like in that part of Tuscany. Lots' of night life in the Versilia too, restaurants, cafes', bars, people strolling, you name it.

i think the thing i like most about Lucca are the accommodations! i've seen some amazing apartments inside Lucca (not sure if any are available or not b/c they havent replied yet) and Lucca seems to be somewhat centrally located to travel from for jaunts here and there (possibly CT for a day, Pisa, etc.) i think i may cross off CT to stay as it seems we would need to plant there and not do much if we chose there.
I will look into the Versilia area for accommodations. Any specific suggestions?

I used to spend my summer vacations in Versilia, usually in rented apartments or houses, but I haven't stayed there overnight for a long time. July is already a busy time, but you should be able to find something since there are thousands of hotel accommodations (if it were August, it would have been very challenging). Versilia is a major summer holiday destinations for Italians (and of course those pesky Germans and other Northern Europeans). Any hotel search site will yield plenty. Lucca is in the interior. July is going to be unbearably hot and maybe sleeping on the coast, where at least you'll get some sea breeze relief, may be a better idea. You can always visit Lucca from Versilia in less than 30 min drive from either "Il Forte" or Viareggio. But it's up to you, Lucca is ancient and quaint too, just damn hot in July (like Atlanta, but without being able to use an air conditioned car, the historical city center inside the city walls is closed to motor vehicles).

I stay inside the walls in Lucca in a converted convent. It has large rooms, large windows that open, and it is reasonable. ( booked on line. It is one of Ricks recommendations in Lucca so the information is in his guide book but it can be googled, as well, if you don't have one of his guide books. Not fancy, but very clean. It is Ostella san Frediano...backs up to the back wall of the city....best pizza place in Lucca is right across the street and it is just steps from the main shopping street.

you've scared me about the heat!
i've had an awful time finding something on the coast in one of those smaller towns probably because i've been looking for an apartment instead of a hotel. i just got a response from an apartment in Lucca that is AMAZING, and it has AC. is it do-able to base from there to visit CT one day, as well as pisa? the apartment is my style anyway, just worried about the heat now! more thoughts??

I checked hotels in Forte Dei Marmi on Booking.com and they do have availability. It's busy however because it's a weekend. You are not likely to find available apartments in that area in July for 3 nights. They usually rent them by the week or by the month in Summer. If you are staying only 3 days, they won't rent them to you, they'd rather take long term renters in July. Temperatures in Lucca will likely be in the 90's F. Unlike on the coast, you won't get much relief at night, since the sea breeze won't be there to cool off at night. If you stay in an apartment in Lucca, A/C is a must.