I was looking around for bikes much like you. I test rode a Kona Jake, Cross Check, Aurora, Volpe, then the Cross Check and Aurora again since those were the two I liked the best and were at the same shop. I settled on the Aurora. Partly the shop offered it for 50 bucks cheaper than the CC, including some upgrades, but mostly it felt better. A testament to the importance of test rides.
If you think of the CC as a cyclocross bike with touring bike tendencies, think of the Aurora as a touring bike with crossish tendencies. I don't know if they all come with them, but mine has interrupter levers like a lot of cross bikes, and for a touring bike the chainstays are relatively short, giving it a "racier" feel than most touring bikes but not really sacrificing load carrying capabilities unless you're doing super-loaded touring, which most people don't.
And as to tire width, I just ordered a set of 35 cross tires, so I sure hope they can fit
I may have to remove the fenders to do it though. I've even done some muddy singletrack on the 28s it comes with. A little scary, but mostly because of the tires. The lower bottom bracket didn't really seem to sacrifice anything. The Aurora isn't a racer, but in a a pinch it can be a fun off and on road bike. In other words, just as good (if not better) of a "do it all" machine than the cross check.