If you are in downtown Richmond, take the canal walk. If you are interested in history, there are several Civil War battlefields in the area. Also, drive down Monument Avenue. Appropriately named as there is a monument on every block.

Shopping? In the metro area are 2 new big areas, Short Pump Town Center and Stony Point Shopping Center with major dept stores and GREAT restaurants.

Personally, I'd head to Williamsburg before visiting Washington, DC.

Richmond has lots to see. Within walking distance of the state capitol - which you should definitely see - is the Valentine Museum/Richmond History Center. That would be a great place to start your visit to Richmond. The Valentine also has a nice cafe in its garden. Just down the street from it to the east is the Museum of the Confederacy and just a few blocks to the west is the John Marshall House. Not too much furhter east (but you will need to drive) is St. John's Church the site of the 2nd Virginia Convention where Patrick henry made his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. If you are here on a Sunday a reenactment of the speech is given and will give you a good flavor for the time period.

About 3 miles west of downtown is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and its parking lot joins that of the Virginia Historical Society which is a museum of Virginia history. You could spend a day just going to those two museums. The Va. Museum has a nice restaurant. About 2 miles west of those two museums are a pair of houses brought over from England, Agecroft Hall and Virginia House. Another fine house museum a few miles west of Virginia house is "Wilton". A beautiful example of a colonial Georgian home. Oh, and I forgot, there's also, "Maymont". A fine Victorian home in the same park like setting in which it was built.

There are also some very good restaurants in Richmond. Carytown area near the Virginia Musem has a lot, as does the Fan district, whiich is between downtown and the Virginia Museum.

Enjoy your visit.