Flat-bar road bike: Trek 7.3
Hybrid: Trek Soho or FX
Comfort: Trek Cruiser

Really, many of the "categories" cross over. Really it boils down to: Do you want drop bars or flat bars? And, what will you do MOST (Fitness or birding by bike).

All of the bikes are really good at one thing, or, are ok at a couple of things. None are perfect for everything. In fact, many people discover quickly that there is a need for a bike for each purpose (Weekend fun ride, commuting, fitness, etc).

For my "riding down the bike paths, with quick excursions over dirt", I have an older Trek Mountain bike with commuter tires on it. It does ok on the path, ok on light trails; but wont do either of them as good as my Schwinn Tourist or my Trek MTB.