What type of bike would best suit me?

Currently, I'm riding a mountain bike by Giant, that I bought some 10 years ago. It's in great shape, and it definitely gets me from A to B, especially since right now I need to ride through the woods to get into town easily (otherwise it's a pretty steep uphill ride, etc).
It is, however, a pretty big bike, and heavy; tough to load into most vehicles that don't have a rack, even if I take the front wheel off. I guess the upside is that it wasn't very expensive.

I'm going to be setting aside some money this summer to possibly buy a new bike for when I move away to school; where I'm headed, it's mostly roads and sidewalks, and I'd like something that I could ride even if it snows, but is small and/or lightweight enough to load into a smaller vehicle.

What kind of bike should I maybe look into buying? Any particular recommendations?

In my experience, unless you have a truck, SUV or car with a big trunk and fold down back seat, it is pretty hard to get any bike in a car.

That said, a lightweight road bike with a quick release front wheel is usually easier to deal with than a mountain bike. They are about the same size, but a road bike is usually a good bit lighter.

A cyclocross bike is essentially a road bike that can accomodate knobbie tires. For mild off road riding or snow, a cyclocross bike may be ideal. Keep in mind, you can also put regular road tires on a cyclocross bike, as well.

A hybrid bike usually has the more upright stance of a mountain bike, but no suspension. You can outfit a hybrid with slicks for pure road riding, knobbies for off road or semi-slicks for something in between.

Generally, you can attach fenders and a rack to either type bike.

Since handling the bike is a concern, you may want to consider the weight of a bike. Hybrids are mostly oriented toward recreational riders and therefore are not particularly light. On the other hand a Cyclocross bike is usually oriented toward racing and will be pretty light.

I suggest you go to your local bike shop and discuss your needs and budget with them. Ride several different models and buy the one that fits your needs, budget and self the best.

Hope this helps.

a cyclocross bike is a mix between the mountain and a road bike. they are though, fast and comfortable.
barnds? depend on how much you want to spend, check ebay for some good deals on cyclocross bikes

If you really want a lighter, easier to lift bike that is hardier than a pure road machine, then take a look at the hybrids. They will usually have the eyelets for putting some kind of rack on them. That's better for hauling stuff than loading your body up with a backpack.

Since you've had a good experience with Giant, start there. Take a look at the FCR series. When bike hunting, let competition in the marketplace work for you. Any two bikes at the same price point are very likely to be equivalent values. Test ride a lot of bikes to find the one that is most comfortable for you. Buy that bike regardless of the name on it.

If you are riding the bike to school, also buy a good lock. I bought a lock and an extra cable that had eyelets at the end. I threaded the lock's cable through the eyelets so that I could secure not only the frame but also the wheels.

HTH