PatrickLondon

Given what you say about your likes, you might enjoy the Buttes Chaumont, or the Promenade Plantée:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris/p...eschaumont.htm
http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ay&thread=4088

but they wouldn't normally be on most people's must-see list if there's limited time.

I wouldn't disagree with any of the recommendations above, but so much depends on your tastes. Personally, I have an aversion to the grand and expensive pomposities of western Paris, which may be what you mean by tourist traps: the places everyone's sent to, but goodness they're wearying.

cinnamon_07

Wow, thank you everyone for your replies. This is a much more active forum than I am used to and am very surprised at how quickly you all responded (and in what numbers!). We will definitely do the Luxembourg Gardens, Buttes Chaumont, Marais and the ice cream (yum). And a lot of the other places (Even the museums and churches) were already on my list, so knowing that you all recommend them moves those to the top of my list. Definitely going to check out the markets too!

Also, don't worry about my comment about the Louvre and the Eiffel tower, I didn't mean to offend. Both of them are musts on my list, I was just attempting to get information about things that you don't find recommended in the average "top 10 things to do in...." lists...hidden gems. It's not that I don't enjoy museums, I really do, but I want to try something different than my other international trips which involved visiting all the museums and every church; after those, I felt like I might have missed seeing other important things and just "experiencing" the cities.

thank you all again!