Giant Escape, or Trek FX, they are in your price range and good rides.
The bike shop is just as important as the bike you chose so check out all the shops in your neck of the woods.
Don't cheap out, get as much bike as you can afford.
Test ride before you buy don't just ride circles in the parking lot take as long of a ride as you can get away with.
But above all else get a bike then come back and tell us all about it.