You ladies are so incredibly helpful! Thank you!

I did go to my LBS (look@me...using the lingo already!) and the guy suggested a Trek 7200. The price tag was do-able for getting a feel if it's something I'd stick with.

My only reason for hesitation is that I would really love to have something I could also take off-road. I'm looking at Trek's website right now & I just can't make heads or tails of what all this stuff means...a Hybrid is a bike that would serve this purpose?