I'm sorry to say but Bistol sucks. I'm probably biased since I have done most of my boarding in Colorado and got spoiled. The Rochester winters just aren't harsh enough to yield good conditions. Most of the time it's man made snow, which turns into shear ice.
Swain is another resort in the area. My wife enjoyed going there while chaparoning Ski Club.
I've heard good things about Holiday Valley, but I haven't been yet.
I could be wrong but I don't think his route from DC to Buffalo would bring him anywhere close to CO resorts, therefore he will have to deal with east coast conditions like I'm sure he is used to anyway......
Also if you got to UB they have a great ski club with weekly bus trips to regional ski resorts as well as a couple of trips each year to Breckinridge, CO and Burlington VT. Check it out here > Schussmeister's Ski and Snowboard Club
Holliday Valley is one of the top ten places in the east to ski and people drive from 4+ hours away to ski there.