Hmmm... so I went to a LBS this evening. I told them my desires and asked them about cyclocross bikes. They balked at the idea stating that it would be an incredibly rough ride and that it didn't seem to be what I need. They suggested a Gary Fisher dual sport. Ideas??? Is that a ridiculous suggestion? They said riding a cyclocross would be like slapping slightly larger tires on my road bike. On packed dirt, a decently comfortable ride but on larger chipped rock, it would be bumpy and jarring.

Following this suggestion I inquired about why I would go with a "dual sport" instead of just a mountain bike then... they didn't really answer that for me.