Well, it's probably proper that I type about Sugar Bowl first, being that's the first place I ever boarded, where it all got started. ......unless you count boarding down sled hills 'real' boarding, which I don't (I don't think I do any way :) ).
Well Sugar Bowl has got to be one of the easiest resort to get to from the San Fransisco Bay Area. You just jump on Interstate 80, and head east. Take the Norden exit, and 3 miles later you're there.

Sugar bowl added over 10 million in improvements for the 05-06 season. They are up to 5 high speed quads, and are in the process of doing some major revamping of the Mt. Judah lodge and area.
Sugar Bowl is nice. A nice sized resort, nice and fast lifts, nice trails, and a nice variety of trails. It's got some great greens and mild blues to learn on, but is known for it's steeps too, ...if you've got the nerves for them. My first day ever, I started on the Knob Hill lift. It's quite shallow indeed. If you're really nervous (or have a new guy) the trail "Union Street" is about as flat as it gets, you'll almost grind to a halt on a slushy spring day. That's when you really get mad at the skiers cruising past you! The next harder lift would be Christmas tree. Once you get to the top of the lift, cruze left and you will have a brief blue (which I was sure was a black on my first day), and a moderate green that goes for quite a ways. It's a nice beginner trail, because it's not so dinky and short like most beginner trails are. But if you're after a shallow green, this ain't it. Sugar Bowls trail markings are kinda low, what might be a blue at Northstar, could be a green at Sugar Bowl and so on. Oh, and check out the trail "Harriet's Hollow", kinduv on the backside of Christmas Tree, it's a cool trail that's narrow, and windes it's way down the hill. Verrrry hard on my first day!!!
If you are a blue cruiser, you could stay on the "Jerome Hill Express" and "Mt. Judah" lifts nearly all day. There's lots there, and some cool park stuff on Judah. I remember trying to hit the rainbow box on one early trip, I almost made it over, but than slid back down the side I came from :tongue: . Sugar Bowl isn't known for it's parks, but it has the usual toys to have a good time on. A super pipe, and all the usual rails, boxes and jumps. The lift "Crow's nest" is cool, it's just that it's only a double chair, and a slow one too. You don't really have to deal with slow lifts at SB, so this one is kindof annoying in that regard. It's got some nice fun blue stuff (again, would almost be black at Northstar), but make sure you stay to the high right side of the slope and keep up some good speed if you want to get back to "Disney Express". You may find yourself in for a long slow ride, or some walking if you really get in the wrong place. "Disney" is all Black, almost Skier black I might venture. Lot's of Moguls, and all the little Chaps and Chapets with the 6 inch skis, seem to be on this hill. All bundled up in a ball, cruising down like it's no problem in the world (I used to get so mad at those kids, how good they were).
And than there's "Mt. Lincoln" the great. This lift has it all. I've mainly stayed on the blue side of things, only dabbling with the black end. It's very long, so it's a great run down. You can reach some breathtaking speeds, and trail names like "Hari-Iari Gully" and "Fuller's Folly" give you an idea of what they are planning to throw at you. The Super Pipe is at the bottom of this lift, and it's a fast lift too, so it's not long before you're to the top and ready to shred some more.
Sugar bowl has two parking areas: One is accessed by a Gondola, which is a cool ride, and dumps you by "Nob Hill" and "Disney". The other is a mountain side lot at the base of "Judah" and "Jerome".
Sugar bowl is a cool place, and the lift tickets won't kill you too badly either. Last season's rates were $46.
Here's the 05-06 trail map. Don't know if they've updated it yet.
Enjoy!