Check out http://www.keyhole.com They have a tool for $40/year that
allows you to "fly" to your destination before you fly! This isn't
like some flight simulator, these are actual satellite pictures. You
can even see your house and tell if your neighbor has a pool or not.
The pictures are 3d so you can lay the image down and see what the
terrain will be like on final before you fly to a mountain airport.
Sorry if I sound like I'm trying to sell something (I'm not in anyway
associated with this company) but I've never seen anything so cool!
One day I bet MS will integrate this into their MSFS product.