for all the helpful replies I've received already. Keep'em coming.
To clarify a few things: I have only been abroad once, to Ireland. In all the Flyertalk messages I read about Ireland, or anything else I read, I never saw the word "pickpocket." It seems like every thread on France at least mentions the risk of becoming a crime victim. That is why I asked about the camera, backpack and about looking like tourists. But as robyng and jp said, it will probably be impossible not to look like a tourist. It's just a matter of returning with the same stuff I leave with each morning. You can imagine how we'd feel if we had our camera or wallets stolen.
How comfortable are you in big cities, generally? I haven't felt any less safe in Paris than anywhere else, although there are pockets where you need to be especially vigilant - CDG for sure, the plaza in front of Notre Dame will be swimming with people, we wnet up to the Flea market and felt unsafe the entire time and especially walking from the Metro stop to the market. Metro stops can be packed at certain times of day, as will the trains to the point where all you can do is stand there with your arms at your side. But, wandering around the 5th/6th for example, I've never felt unsafe. Just use normal city precautions.
I should also say that Giverny is non-negotiable. This whole thing started in part because my wife and I had a discussion (a la "The Bucket List") about what would you really like to do before you die. She said go to Giverny. I realize it can be swarmed with tourists, but there is no way we are going to France and not going there. My plan is to spend the night in a B&B there and be at Monet's garden when it opens to minimize the number of Americans coming by bus for the day that we have to deal with.
Staying at a B&B in Giverny could be wonderful, so go for it if you want to. It is, however, a fairly easy day trip from Paris as well, 45-60 minutes by train and then a bit of a hike from the station (people recommend renting bikes as a fun way. This site (that I found by happenstance and can't vouch for) has lots of comments from people who've done just that:
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...erny-BR-1.html
I also did want to get a taste of the French countryside. So far as Burgundy is concerned, I thought a winery tour/tasting would be great and you can't get any more famous for wine then Burgundy. I was also considering Alsace which I have heard is really great for hiking, which we also enjoy, so I was interested to see the plugs for Strasbourg. I hadn't thought about the Loire, but you have really given me more things to think about.
Have you thought about Reims and then Strasbourgh/Alsace. I agree that the 1 day in Paris at the beginning of the trip is a waste. Reims is East of Paris beyond CDG and about a 90 minute drive (maps.google says 93) and also, I believe (too lazy to check right now) on the same high-speed train line that stops at CDG. You could rent a car at CDG and be right on the highway immediately (easy driving) or take the train to Reims and then rent a car from there. This is Champange county, of course. From there, you're in the right direction for Strasbourgh where I would spend a day, but probably not a night and instead head south in the mid-afternoon for a stay in Alsace. Strasbourgh is also fairly easy for driving, and there is a well-signposted carpark that puts you right under a main plaza within easy walking distance of the catherdal, etc. I think of Alsace, since you mention hiking. It is not well-known and I sort of stumbled across it, but there is an amazing hiking trail called something like the "Route du Vin" that goes through the vineyard sort of up and over the hills from little village to little village.
update: I was incorrect, the "Route du Vin" is the general driving route past all the vineyards. I was thinking of "Sentier viticole des Grands Crus". This page (in English) gives a good overview - and spectacular picture:
http://andynashnetwork.blogspot.com/...-bennwihr.html
Like I said, information is hard to find, and I also found some signposts to be missing - all part of the fun. I actually stumbled across the trail when I saw one of the signs right outside the driveway of our country Inn and I just started walking one afternoon.
Don't miss Colmar, which is wonderful, and since you haven't traveled much you might want to consider a quick trip to Freiburg just across the border in Germany, another fun place. From Alsace you could either drop the car in Strasbourgh and take the train back to Paris, or it might be cheaper to just bring the car back to CDG. You REALLY don't want to deal with a car in Paris itself.
During the day, do people carry their passports with them, in case of emergency, or leave them at the hotel for security?
You will get different opinions here. I used to always take my passport with me, and worried about it all day. Now I just leave it in the room and haven't ever needed it for anything. But there are reports of random police ID checks - I've never encountered one. Random shops will ask for it when using a US credit card (never had it in Paris, however) but my Driver's License satisfied them.
About the segways --
When at a new city, it can be fun to take a half day tour to get oriented, and get a taste of it all. We have done that by bus in Chicago and DC, for example. On tripadvisor, I had seen some very positive comments about the segway tour, and I thought it would be a bit unique. The river cruise sounds great too, of course.
So that may give more background on what we are hoping to accomplish. Thanks again.