Looking for a Cross/Hybrid Bike
I'm looking to get myself a nice birthday gift of a new or slightly used bike. At first I was thinking of going for a straight road bike, but after further consideration I realized I didn't want that limitation. I live in Philadelphia and want to ride to work (about 15 miles each way) and also be able to off-road it on the local paths.
The problem is I am not at all familiar with these types of bikes, since I've been riding road bikes exclusively for a while now. I want to get something mid-level, maybe ~$1000 or slightly more or less. I am leaning more towards a road frame geometry that will give me more comfort for distance riding. What kind of improvements do hybrid or cross-terrain bikes have over road bikes that makes them capable of handling off-road trekking? I have to imagine there's more to it than wider tires.
Any advice you might have would be great as well as specific models or brands. Thanks.