"Nifty" is a strange term to apply to VB. Just be aware of the "No Cruising" along Atlantic Avenue. The Old Coast Guard Station and Aquarium/Marine Museum are worth the time.
Doing the crawl in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom will use up your time, your $$, and many of your brain cells - or so I'm told. Just about any night will work, but of course Friday & Saturday are prime times. There has not been a shooting there for 2 weeks, so maybe the place has calmed down.
(Seriously, stupid
3 has been responsible for most of the stuff that happens. Tourists are pretty much left alone.)
Carytown (Richmond neighborhood) has some nightlife (Can Can's bar is probably the best place). Plan 9 records has actual vinyl discs if you ever wondered what they look like. The Galaxy diner is supposed to be good but you could never convince me. Late afternoon or weekend days are great for watching the passing scenery.
Virginia Historical Museum and Virginia Museum of Fine Arts are the "must-see" cultural stops unless you like touring old houses - we've got a Tudor (Agecroft) and antebellum (Wilton). The area arounf VMH/VMFA is "The Fan" and has interesting archetecture, as well as the world's largest collection of second place trophies (momuments to the defenders of the War of Northern Aggression/The Late Unpleasantness). It's also near VCU which will give you summer school students. Monroe Park has a free lunch for the homeless on Saturday/Sunday (people watching). Museum of Aviation out at the airport (Byrd Field, don't fall for that RIC crap!) is supposed to be good.
42nd Street at the James River Park, and the rocks just west of The Pony Pasture (park there and follow the path) are good places to watch folks sun and soak in the river. Just remember to check ID - school's out and , well, 'nuff said.
Buzz & Ned's BBQ (they beat Bobby Flay in a showdown) has their original spot on North Boulevard and a new, larger, very noisy spot on West Broad at Parham (Par'am - no "h"), but I prefer Alamo
http://www.alamobbqva.com .
There's a brand new shooting range - Colonial Shooting Academy
http://www.colonialshooting.com - have not been there yet. The buzz in town is over their rules, but everybody seems to like the amenities. Be sure to wink at them over the "CSA" - what else would you pick in the capital of the Confederacy?
A day trip out to Colinial Williamsburg/W&M University can be worth the 1 1/2 hour drive.
Or did you have something specific in mind?
stay safe.