If you've never done an aquarium before I suggest you study, study, study first. Got to www.wetwebmedia.com and read the section on freshwater aquariums. Read the frequently asked questions.
Your questions are a little open ended. Once you've studied and get an idea of what you think you would like, come back to this forum and ask specific questions and I'm sure you will get lots of help and suggestions.

You have a variety of fish and plants, depending upon your tastes, to put in a tank this size. Angelfish would be fine. And to go with Angels, you try Gouramis, livebearers (Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails, Platties). As to plants, you can buy Swords, Vallisneria, Anacharis, Cabomba,...

I would suggest doing a fishless cycle. It saves alot of heart ache in the end. If you want to do the plant thing then start the plants first. Get them to start growing well then add fish. Plants will need a good supply of light in your big tank. Plants that do well in low light that are good "begginer" plants are java fern, foxtail/parrot feather/frill what ever the local fish store calls it. Water sprite is good to, but may need medium to low light to do well.

Water Sprite happens to be my favorite plant, when I was a kid, and propogating livebearers and bubblenest builders. How do plants get the Nitrogen Cycle going?