Assuming you are sitting at a computer with a full browser and have the Google Earth plugin installed you should checkout the 3D view. The view gives you the feeling of flying over your route in a helicopter.
To try out the new 3D aerial view make sure you have the Google Earth plugin installed then go to Google Maps, pick “get directions", pick a origin and destination, after google has plotted your directions, hit the “3D" play button for a cool flyover type viewing. Neat stuff.