A lot of this is dependent on what you want. Maybe try test-riding a few bikes at these stores and see what you want: drop bars or flat bars? aggressive or relaxed geometry? skinny tires or wider tires? aluminum or steel (carbon is probably not what you want)?

Many people on BF (myself included) have had good experiences with cyclocross-style bikes for an all-rounder. For the three brands you have access to, examples are the Trek CrossRip, the Specialized TriCross, and the Raleigh Roper. If you're doing a lot of hauling, which you are, it might be good to get something with a more relaxed geometry - which will probably be branded as a touring bike.