I go to school in Malibu, which is about 3 hours north of sd. Mammoth is by far the best, but if you can't make the 6 hour plus drive, bear and summit will have to do. Bear is one big park, which means everybody is skiing in the park, the snow sucks (I grew up skiing and still ski tahoe). I've never skied the east coast, but i'd say they compare, slushier, not a whole lot of mountain.