In reply to mike123:
I've never been too enamoured with Dreamweaver - it produces a lot of unnecessary code for what you get. It may have improved in recent years but it's not something I can afford to keep up with new versions.
There's a progression in web sites/design:
static HTML: fine for small sites that don't require much interactivity or regular updating.
Basic PHP: good for larger sites where you can have a layout including consistent items like headers and footers so you can easily update things site wide. Also gives you database access.
PHP frameworks: tend to use an MVC design pattern and URI rewriting so that effectively you have a single page site with the framework building everything up dynamically. Good for application style web sites. Can be easy to update content. Look up CodeIgniter; Laravel; Kohanna
CMS: A full application that can do pretty well anything. Designed to be easy to update content. Vary in ease of use - Joomla vs Wordpress.
On top of all that you have the actual design of the site: any one of the above structures can look lovely or awful!
ALC