Well, when you're spending in that price range, you're going to get a decent bike, but nothing top of the line. Base your purchase on what feels most comfortable and what fits your budget. You might want to take a look at the Specialized Hardrock series, for example. I have a Hardrock Pro and it's done quite well for exactly the duty you're speaking of. Jamis has the Cross Country and Durango that I think are around that price range. All of them would probably do quite well.