DC, Couple of questions that will aid in the help.
Are you familar with paddling a canoe at all?
What I mean is this, when taking your daughter out on the water it will just be you paddling so some knowledge of a couple of strokes will make your life easier and YOU will also have fun and not feel like you are at the gym. Just as a picture, when you see folks paddling a canoe that are constantly passing the paddle back and forth from port to starboard in order to stay straight, they are not paddling correctly. If you choose to go the canoe avenue, send me a PM, I can give some in water or out of water instruction to keep it fun for you and allow you to enjoy your daughter while on a paddle, without worrying about the boat.
If most of you paddling will be on lakes or big flat water (merrimack size rivers) you will want a canoe with zero to minimal rocker. The boat will sit flatter in the water, be less menueverable (it will still turn on a dime), but is super stable. You will want a boat that sits flat above the water line and low in the water (to a point), the chance of paddling in the wind is a good one. The taller the bow and stern on the canoe, the more wind it will catch and be harder to maintain a straight course. This problem can be overcome, so if you are more worried above waves than I have a solution for that. You paddle the boat with a nose away from the wind attitude, basically every stroke you take pushes the nose toward the wind and then the wind pushes it back, very easy on the effort scale.
Based on the two main concerns above I would suggest two different boats by Old Town. One more cost effective than the other, similar style, super stable and virtually indestructable.
The first is the Discovery 158 or 169, both reasonable sizes to paddle solo and will fit three for a family adventure. This is the toughest boat old town makes and one of the easiest to paddle. This boat is heavy and is very basic as far as seating and contruction goes, it keeps the cost down. If you do not know what a better boat paddles like, you will get years of enjoyment out of it, if you get hooked and want more than just the flat water, you will outgrow this boats capabilities. It paddles fine for light recreation (i.e. what you describe), plus if you do outgrow it, you can never have to many canoes.
The second is the Tripper 172, this is a super stable boat that sits high in the water, it is rated for 1500lbs and the gunwales are about 8" above the surface of the water when unloaded. More money than the discovery, but is more comfortable to paddle, will not handle heavy abuse on rocks and sticks.
I have paddled the tripper 172 as well as the XL (not reccomended at all, way more boat than what you are needing) on week long camping trips in Maine many times, as well as around in NH on the rivers. This boat handles the same fully loaded with a weeks worth of food and gear as it does with two people. Slightly slower response but on flat water you will not have an issue. I have soloed it, poled it, tandem, works well with all disiplines.
There are other brands that are in the same range as these, but I would recommend staying between 16'-18'. Smaller boats get really tight and anything over 18' is in guiding range, you really have to know how to paddle one to get it where you want to go.
Been paddling for 21 years now, solo paddled my first time every in canoe when I was 9 in a Mad River 14 with an experienced friend of the family and have not looked back since, truely love the sound of a canoe cutting the water. My daughter went on her first 4 day camping/paddle excursion when she was 2 1/2 and my son will go this year at 2. You will want to get your daughter a wooden youth paddle, as she will love to learn and "help out". All kinds of different paddles for you depending on what feels good in your grip, can help with that too, if you go this route.
Anyway, anymore questions feel free to ask. I do not know much about rowboats so I am sure someone else can fill you in and you can weigh it out.
Jmen24