e.g.
GT Backwoods Expert Mountain Bike - 2015 Performance Exclusive
$900 (this weekend get $270 back as store credit for pedals/helmet/clothes, whatever) Effectively brings bike down to $630.
Butted Al, 29er, rockshox, deore.
Fuji Tahoe 1.5 29er Mountain Bike - 2015
$1150 (then 30% store credit
adds tapered steerer, and air fork
and it can keep going up from there however much you want to spend.
path and pavement bikes? look here, lots of options, all are probably workable. Skip any that have suspension. Weight and the bouncing drains efficiency.
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...y=&searchTerm=