I grew up in NH and boy I don't miss the snow. The big question is budget and why type of additional riding do you think you might want? A mountain bike will have a lot of versatility, but won't be best on the road. A hybrid is a good all round bike, but still has an upright riding position. A cyclocross bike will have drop bars and be more like a road bike, but can take some off road use.

Perhaps trying to purchase a used bike can get you started. Once you decide what kind of riding you like, you can purchase a nice new bike. I see a good number of posts where people start out with a flat bar bike and then decide they want drop bars. If you purchase a used bike, you can probably sell it for about the same $ as you purchased it.

You don't state your budget. An Xmart bike should be avoided. There are some acceptable choices in the $400-500 range. Check out the hybrid and commuter forums for the "what bike should I buy threads". You'll find some options in many price ranges.