X-Country Ski Recommendations

After talking about it vaguely for years, I've decided I want to try out cross-country skiing. My plan is to take a weekend, drive up Friday night, get a basic lesson Saturday morning, mess around for the rest of the day, then back home on Sunday. Nothing too ambitious or committing myself too deeply before I find out if I like it. So for those readers familiar with cross-country ski areas in reasonable driving distance from Oakland, what do you recommend? I've already had one recommendation of Bear Valley which looks like it fits the essentials. Any other ideas? (This is also intended as a dose of relaxing "me time". If it hooks me, I may also be looking for ski companions at a later date.)