This. Absolutely, this. For e-mail, general web browsing, reading my magazine subscriptions ... it's fantastic.
The Facebook app is kind of clunky, but workable. Twitter is awesome on the iPad, and there are several client apps you can pick from (I use the regular Twitter app, and it works great for me).
ABC and NBC have good apps, for TV viewing (not live, after the fact). I don't use the Watch ESPN app because my cable company doesn't support it, but I have heard good things. TuneIn and IHeartRadio are good for listening to radio stations, and if you're crafty you can find live radio sports coverage there.
ESPN Score Center app can keep you up to date. MLB At Bat app for following the Braves (if you insist). Kayak, Trip Advisor, Priceline, Yelp are great travel apps. If you are a newspaper subscriber, oftentimes a paper will have an app so you can load and read the paper on your iPad (both the Cedar Rapids Gazette and Des Moines Register has one). USA Today has a free app.
If you plan to do much typing, you will want to get a keyboard. Bluetooth keyboards work really well. My wife has a metal case for her iPad that doubles as a keyboard and a stand, which I am very envious of.
People will have a hard time prying the iPad out of your hands. Have fun!
