Ugh, so many armchair experts in here.
I would strongly suggest going with a "super-zoom" type camera instead of a DSLR. These offer amazing features and basically all manual controls you get with a DSLR without having to carry around an enormous bag and switching lenses all the time. Canon has a 80% market share for a very good reason, virtually every single product they make is superior to anything else on the market. Think about how competitive the camera market has become and for Canon to still have that kind of hold on the market only happens for very good reasons.
Also consider what your typical shooting environment will be and how many lens changes will be required. Unless it will become a major hobby for you later on, I don't see any reason as to why you would want to invest in a DSLR + glass (by far the biggest cost of any DSLR) at this point, it will just be more hassle than it's worth for you at the moment.
Save half your money and buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho...ef=pd_sim_p_56
/former finance manager for a major camera manufacturer for 4 years if that matters (not Canon)