OK, I'll be honest. I had one of the worst cycling experiences of my life in MV. But, it was summer, so you won't have to deal with crowds or nasty tourists from that state south of here.
But... we heard a lot of "Get on the path!!" some of it not said very nicely. The paths suck because there are driveways every few feet. People stared at us like crazy because of our lycra and some even pointed at us. This was about five years ago, maybe it's changed??
I would opt for the commuter. There are lots of shops and places to stop. There were also some good rolling hills, which surprised me. We rode 66 miles and I was exhausted! The scenery is beautiful, no need to go super fast, hence I would want a bike that was right for that type of ride. And the roads might still be cr*ppy in April.