Picking a home-base in Spain

It's a big country.
Clarify - you really mean a city of hundreds of thousands or millions or something else? You should certainly outline your visions of Spain and aims. When?

Spain is a big country. But if I had to pick 1 city for home base it would be Madrid or close to it. There are many day trips available from there. Barcelona and Sevilla are not hat far by train or air but I would not recommend day trips for them.

We don't necessarily want to stay in a large metro area, but I don't know what good options there are. Maybe this question is better. If you got to pick one place in Spain to live for a month, with two kids, where would you pick and why?

The Madrid region would be a good choice because there is so much in the area and some short overnight trips are possible. But I personally would pick somewhere in Andalucia just because that is my favorite area. Cordoba could be a nice base, easy access into Sevilla or Grenada but not too big. Or even stay in one of the hill towns if you rent a car. The beaches would be within striking distance too for some beach time.

Amy, with a month to spend, I might break it up into two 2 week apartment stays - one in Madrid or close by, and one in the south, maybe Sevilla or one of the Pueblos Blancos. Spain is fantastic. Have a great time!

'If you got to pick one place in Spain to live for a month, with two kids, where would you pick and why?' - If you want help - YOU advise the criteria and what your two children would want, I doubt they are the same things as children I know. Input = output I too would suggest Andalucia and somewhere central but, as requested, you provide no further information on expectation. As requested, you do you not advise when? Happy, with possible stupefying 42C?

I second Ruth's suggestion of 2, 2-week stays, although that might make finding apartments more difficult. From Madrid, you could see Avila, Segovia, Toledo, Salamanca, and maybe even take a jaunt north. It is pretty inconvenient to see multiple southern cities if you are returning to Madrid in between. From Sevilla, you are well connected to almost anywhere in the south: Granada, Cordoba, White Hill Towns, any of the costal cities and towns, and possibly overnights to Gibraltar and/or Tangiers, Morrocco. Seeing Barcelona while being based in either city would be a stretch unless you made it a priority, but to be in Spain for a month and NOT see it would be a shame. It is quite a fun city. There are AVE trains connecting it to major cities, but I have found it more convenient to find a cheap flight (make sure it's in and out of El Prat airport). Sounds fun! Have a great time!

My kids need to be near water, lake, river , sea,, to be able to swim when its hot,, what about yours? Assume this trip is in summer, it gets mighty hot there in summer,,, so a pool would be needed if you stayed inland, or i should say it would be for our family.

With a month to spend in Spain with two kids that age, I can only assume you're going in either July or August - the hottest time to be in Spain - particularly from Madrid-towards-the-south. If you wanted to stay-put in one place and fan-out, I'd have to recommend Madrid as a good central point with excellent access out by bus and train to all points of Spain. OR, choose 2 points in Spain: 1) in (hotter) southern Spain - say, Sevilla or even coastal Málaga
2) in (cooler) northern Spain - say, coastal San Sebastián-Donostia, Santander, or Gijón, all of which provide a cooler (but still warm in summer) climate and a greener environment than in the south. The coastal locations will have wonderful - albeit very busy - beaches. Accommodation is harder to find and more expensive in the summer beach areas, too, though. Happy Travels!! Saludos, MadridMan @ you-know-where!

As others have said, you need to consider your interests, whether you are a big city person or not. Even the biggest cities of Madrid and Barcelona are not huge in comparison with some US cities but they are cities nevertheless. Seville, Granada and Cordoba are smaller cities - Seville the largest I think at about 750,000. I know little of Spain outside Andalucia so depending on the time of the year the north may be better. That said, to me Andalucia is not as hot as many seem to think - but I guess it is what you are used to and consider hot. Seville would be the hottest of the 3 in July /August. Spain is very welcoming and very child friendly but the language barrier may pose a bit of a problem unless you or the children speak spanish.