The view of Mars though a telescope is often disappointing due to its distance and small size. Nevertheless, it's hard to not be impressed by the similarities between Mars and Earth. Magnifications of 150X or greater are the most useful.

Color filters are a great aid when observing Mars. A blue filter will enhance cloud features and an orange filter will increase the contrast of the dark surface markings. Switching back and forth can really give you a feel for the dynamic world that's just one orbit away.