Newbie commercial school question

I'd recommend learning on aerotow. If you do your checkride on aerotow,
it's only a CFIG endorsement to fly MG's, but you'd need a second
checkride if you do MG's first. Also, unless you're going to have
access to a MG after training, I don't see how a MG checkride will do
you much good since most FBO's are aerotow.

As to locations, I'd second Soar Minden. I did my training there in
1995 and loved it. While the wx isn't totally reliable (how about a
snow flurry in July one year?), I suspect that it is one of the most
reliable sites in the nation. And the views are absolutely stunning
when you get high enough to see Lake Tahoe -- which is most days after
April.

Wishing you luck.

Martin