We were a large group using Dick and Ann's house for our summer vacation in late July and August. We had ample space for a party that was mostly made up of adults, as our kids are older. We didn't used the downstairs room much but did make great use of the kitchen area, sun room and terrace. The latter in particular is a fabulous space and the roof terraces are widely used along the street. It creates a lovely atmosphere.
The village is quiet, especially during the week and fill sup a bit at the weekend. The shop is great. The owners are very nice and accommodating, especially of our lack of Spanish/Catalan. The store serves all your needs and we used it for stocking up on bread as well as for the fruit and veg. The croissants and Neapolitans are amazing, but you have to get in there quickly! We used the Carrefour and Mercadona in L'Escala for bigger shops. Both are very good, the former especially.
We didn't use the closest beaches but did go regularly to the beach at Sant Marti D'Impuries. This is a very nice, sandy beach and was surprisingly quiet except at the weekends. The wind can pick up but it does along this coast. But it doesn't detract from what can be a long time spent on the beach. The sea is lovely and especially calm in the early mornings. I highly recommend a swim then. It is a 15 minute drive but the roads are reasonably clear and the drive easy.
Heading into L'Escala is easy enough in the evenings. We tended to park at the public car park near to the ruins and then walk along the coastal path. If you head along at the right time you'll find a spot and the walk is ten minutes if that. The views are lovely in the evening. L'Escala itself is a nice resort with food to suit most needs (we were a mix of carnivores and vegetarians).
It may sound odd, but we would highly recommend the Frankfurt restaurant which serves german-inspired burgers and bratwurst (including very good vege options), amazing bravas and very nice beer. The atmosphere is excellent as it is frequented by lots of locals and not only tourists. The hosts, who own the restaurant, are super nice and speak good English for those lacking Spanish. We all love tapas but this was a great alternative that is tucked away in the back streets.