If you want a really cool toad, go for an American Toad. A few years back at my cousin's house, I found a tiny American Toad. I named her Annabelle and since she was just too cute I took her all around the house with me xD
She was maybe 1 inch long and the best amphibian I've ever had. I would set up little Breyer horse jumps and make little racetracks for her to jump through....her cage was a mere 3 gallon Kritter Keeper. I had 4 inches of dirt in it, and since she always burrowed to the bottom of it every day, once I thought it would be cool to leave the lid off. Of course within 5 minutes she was gone and I was searching frantically through the house for her. I found her under the giant TV cabinet in the living room, sitting there. It was so funny, because when I lowered my eyes to her level, she was sitting right there with the seriousness only a toad can have. She was just the coolest pet ever xD She never even released water on me like most toads do ;D
I eventually let her go in my back yard because at some point she stopped eating and I just felt bad for her.
I'm not too big on newts anymore, but if I could any, it'd be a Chinese Firebelly newt....they're aquatic and amazing. If I could get any land newt, it'd be the California Newt.
If I could get any salamander, it would be the Spotted Salamander. I find them sometimes at my cousin's house, but we never keep them because they're so rare in that area.
As for reptiles......I don't know.
But if you want something you can look at but not touch, get a tree frog. Several years ago I caught a tiny .5 inch Spring Peeper, and I kept it in a 1 gallon Kritter Keeper with moss and some tiny bugs. I put it in the staircase while my mom and I watched a movie and suddenly there was loud, screaming chirping vibrating through the house....and it all came from that one, itty bitty male Spring Peeper. Pretty amazing, huh? Well if you get a tree frog, try to be sure it's not a male or you might end up with lots of noise xD
I still think you should get an American Toad, though.