It's gunna be BUSY those times of the year. Lift line wait times could exceed 30 minutes. The snow may not be that good as well (or it could be great, who knows).

Skiing the big resorts like Skistoned (Keystone) or Breck-n-wind (Breckenridge) can be an amazing experience coming from smaller mountains. I too grew up skiing So Cal mountains and was amazed at the terrain, but quickly grew sick of the lines, snobby people, $8.00 beers, $20 parking...

I now ski the small resorts - Wolf Creek in southern Colorado between Alamosa and Pagosa Springs is amazing. They have $25 lift tickets once a month, and you can stay in cabins 1/2 hour away with 2 bedrooms, kitchens, hot tubs... for less than half the price of the big areas.

Back to your question - if you want to ski a variety consider staying in Dillon or Silverthorn and driving. From a central spot you could hit up A-Basin, Skistoned, Breckenwind, Copper, Vail, Steamboat, Lovewind (Loveland), hell even Winter Park all within an hour. Dillon/Silverthorn is a little cheaper as well. Hotel rooms are in the 90's if I remember, but the real jewel are private condos. If you got enough people the private condos pay for themselves.

A-Basin - amazing off-piste riding. Some of the best in the state. Good base atmosphere, cheap beer. New backside lift ruins my anuall Montezuma backcountry run, but added 900 acres.

Breck-n-wind - BUSY. Stopped going after they ruined the hike up peak 8. Flats at bottom piss me off, as does the bus ride in. Good beg/int skiing. Good bumbs, big mountain.

Skistoned - backside is good for advanced. BUSY, and good snow gets tracked out quick. Front is packed. Middle mountains good cords, bumbs, screamers (watch for the ski pigs).

Cooper - I HATE Copper. HATE it. Was riding the top one year when a prick ski piggy closed an area to allow his son and son's friends to ski, but not us, the paying public. Cocksucker asked if I had a "death wish" when I told him the line I wanted to ski, and then proceeded to side step the snow off my line (which I was gunna drop the rope and ski anyway). A confrontation ensued and I was relieved of my pass. F- Copper.

Vail - AWESOME. Ski the Blue Sky area on back. Steep and Deep to Scotty's lift to the backcountry off skier's right. If you think you can handle it, I can show you exactly where to go, but a beacon/shovel/probe is advisable as are expert skills. Cliff drops up to 20 are encountered. Front side good for bumps/groomers.

Lovewind - good, small resort. Chair 9 (Ridge Chair) dumps off the divide into possible 20+ footers, great line skiers left requires a little hiking. Lift 8 is solitude, nobody goes. Love Loveland. Great place to ski.

Steamboat - trees, trees, trees. Love it.

Winter Park/Mary Jane - Good int. mountain. Bumps/trees on Mary Jane are to die for. Hiking the ridge is good, but requires expert status and beacon/shovel/probe.

Loveland Pass - screw paying $80+ lift ticket prices. Park halfway up the pass, thumb rides for the day and ski good backcountry for free. Even better, take a couple friends and rotate driving. Bring the cooler and burgers. Beacon/shovel/probe recommended.

Anything else you wanna know? I ski 60 - 80 days per year, all over the state. My skiing addiction cost me several thousand each year.