I reckon you should go for M104 first, The Sombrero Galaxy. It's an awesome sight in a 12". The dust cloud that cuts right through it, and the dome of light that glows out of the heart of the galaxy, fantastic.
It's easy to find as there are two large bright asterisms ( Jaws and Stargate ) that almost point right at it.
Here is a step by step guide to finding it.
http://www.backyard-astro.com/deepsky/top100/15.html