Hello and welcome!

Take a look at June's issue (i think it was June... maybe it was May) of Bicycling Magazine. The front cover above the title they list off "The best $700 bike we've ever ridden."

It's a Trek road bike, and when I read the description/review it sounded pretty cool. It might give you a good place to start looking.

Someone from TE near you should be able to recommend a few local bike shops to check out. I love my LBS, and they really are my best resource as they've gotten to know me and my bike and how I ride.