Chiang Mai is the country's 2nd larget city, and it 'is' a city! Often photos etc bill it as a mountain hieaway type place but just remember it's a bustling city, I go often on business and it's 'ok' but I'm not really into cities, if you want more of the natural side of Northern Thailand you need to venture to Chiang Rai area, also Mae Hong Son and Pai are great places. Another area that rarely gets mentioned is Isan province in N.E Thailand. Buri Ram is also a place worth seeing and you really get 'into' the Thailand than many people envisage.

Boose,
I go to buy items to bring/send home in the area of silks and textiles. Other members of my family buy wood products. We enjoy the markets (Bosong, Handong) just outside Chiang Mai for looking and buying. They have good prices. I think some things I have were actually made in Laos or Myannmar but they made it across the border to the CM markets.