[Don Plumley]

Here's my two euro cents:

California/Sierra Nevada (Squaw, Alpine, Northstar, Heavenly): Beautiful. Great skiing. Apres ski limited. New villages at Northstar and Squaw a pale comparison to Europe (what they are trying to emulate).

Utah (Alta, Snowbird, Park City): Best powder, great resorts. Alta kicks, but a bit isolated - best ski trip of my life.

Colorado (Vail): Best village/apres ski - probably closest to Europe

East Coast: Just say no. Snow dicey, ice.

Coming from an European perspective, your total package: Sights, Apres ski, environment would be really hard to top. Stay on the continent or go someplace unique like Japan, New Zealand...