Ok since your price range is low, don't be looking at digital slr's unless you are willing to buy one that's used. If used is an option, you can check ebay for good deals. If it's something you don't need right away, and want to go the SLR route- maybe you can buy a piece at a time. You can buy the camera independently from the lens which is nice, and slowly add to your collection of lenses.

Megapixels aren't a hug deal unless you plan on blowing up huge photos. Here is some info on megapixels: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

In my experience, look for cameras that have more optical zoom v. digital zoom. Photos taken with digital zoom maxed tend to be grainy. Go for as much optical zoom as you can get & ignore DZ at all cost.

You might want to go for just an advanced point & shoot, such as this one:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+-+Coolpix+10.0-Megapixel+Digital+Camera+-+Black/9220229.p?id=1218061795563&skuId=9220229

Sometimes, accessories make all the differance. When I first got started taking pictures I had an Olympus advanced point and shoot, and I was able to buy some add ons (filters) that really made for some professional looking photos. There are filters for every situation, like a fog filter that makes the environment hazy, Polarizer- which makes blues (sky/water) more briliant, and my favorite; a cross screen filter- which turns light sources into stars. I actually did a friends wedding photography with this less than par camera and everyone thought they were done professionally. So, you're money can go a long way.