There is no such thing as the best camera. It depends what you want out of the camera.
Do you want something easy to carry? Pocket sized maybe? Go with a compact digital camera (ex. Canon Digital ELPH) or do you want something with a little more versatility and an SLR feel without actually going SLR? Try the FujiFilm FinePix S9000. I had a n S7000 for a long time and was very happy with it.
Now instead of both of those, perhaps you crave SLR. Changing lenses for different effects, and full control over your image etc.
It all depends on what your looking for.
I Started out on a FujiFilm FinePix A303. It was pocket sized, and it was good to start off with. As time went on, I started to want to do more. The A303 was holding me back, so i went with the FinePix S7000 and learned a lot. I shot on that camera for over a year and had very good results with it, but still after a while, I still wanted more control.
Now I shoot with a Minolta Maxxum 7 35mm SLR and a Konica-Minolta Maxxum 7D DSLR. I feel right at home for now and prob. wont go anywhere for a long time. I'm very happy with what my SLR's can do.
But I'll say it one more time. It depends on what you want to do. You wanna carry around heavy bag full of lenses and other equip, get an SLR, you want to carry around little to nothing, Go compact. Compact digital cameras have come a loooong way in a very short time.