Should have done a VFR hop over the Rockies yesterday! Beautiful, clear blue skies, and 60 knot surface winds! I shut off the AP and throttled the baron waaay back. THAT was bumpy!
I usually run back and forth between CYDQ and CYVR or CYYJ as my late evening, before bed sim fix.
I believe you just cannot beat the view as you come over the Coastals and get the first view of the strait. Especially if you can time it as the sun is dipping below the island.