What's your budget?  A nice hardtail 29er with the proper size tires can handle road rides and trails as long as you plan to settle in for the ride and enjoy it.....

Thanks FredRubble and gonzo for your input. I failed to include all the proper info. I'm female, just a little over 5'3" and budget, I'd like to keep it under $800 and would plan to own it for many many years. It would help if I'd just commit to something. I was hoping I could find a way to have it all. lol Realistically I'd probably ride the road more because I'm just more comfortable with that. My (teen to young adult) children are regular mountain bikers, but they'd be willing to dumb down their ride for me. The bike I rode in the Anson county race was my daughter's, a men's Trek bike, and way too big for me. I just made do and borrowed it because she was the only one not riding that day so her bike was free. I don't currently own a bike. My children are all quite a bit taller than I am. I like the idea of just switching out tires.

See the market place........I've got a small 29'r basically new, and I live in Monroe if you wanna check it out. I have a road bike but I also have a 29'r hardtail with cross tire's that I ride on the road, actually I'm more comfortable on it than my road bike, if you need to hit the ditch no big deal.