First off, I like this map, especially how you did the rivers (I think they look very nice). I think it's a great example of RobA's tutorial. I think you could probably improve the forests by going in and erasing where they overlay the rivers, just so it looks like the rivers cut through the foliage. I don't know if you used layer masks, but assuming you did, you can do a small (10-20 px?) gaussian blur on the layer mask of the forest so that it blends in nicely with the surroundings. These are, of course, just suggestions-otherwise, a great first effort!

As for civic features, your instincts are probably pretty good-every town needs water (which doesn't just have to come from rivers, it can come from wells and other sources) and/or some natural resource to keep it going. For example, you could put a town at the intersection of the two large rivers in the top right-it would have access to a lot of trade going through (probably).