Flying VFR at night can be exhilarating. The view of the lights is magnificent. There is usually much less turbulence. Sometimes afternoon thunderstorms have died down. There is less traffic at night. Communication is usually more casual. On one occasion at about 3 a.m., I recall the center controller and pilots enjoying a conversation about the partial eclipse of the moon. Except over large cities, other aircraft are much easier to see at night. And if you're actually in the clouds, it is sometimes possible to determine in what direction the lightning (and hence turbulence) is occurring and avoid it, although Stormscope and Doppler radar are the incomparably better way to do this.
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