ATLANTA (CNN) -- So where will you head on your summer vacation this year? You might want to start at the book shelves -- for a guide that will help you find your destination, and take you to the best spots once you're there.

We've taken the liberty of picking a few books focusing on popular summer destinations. Who knows -- you might decide to pack your bags and head to Europe, or San Francisco, or New Orleans. And if you're traveling with kids, have no fear. We have a book that will tell you how to keep them -- and you -- from whining your vacation away.

Europe in a nutshell

Fodor's "Up Close: Europe" -- Who, really, has seen all there is to see in Europe? The wealth of culture and history of the continent is so intimidating, many tourists are torn over where to head next. The Swiss Alps, or the French Riviera? The backstreets of London, or the backcountry of Italy? Fortunately, Fodor's comes to the rescue with its all-encompassing "Up Close: Europe" guide. The book, nearly as big as the continent itself, organizes essential information into quick, easy-to-reference categories: "Where to Sleep," "Where to Eat," "Getting Around," and "Worth Seeing." Maps of some cities are also included, but those are the only illustrations you'll find in the book. Who's got time to look at pictures, anyway? There's too much sightseeing to do!

"Little Known Museums" by Rachel Kaplan -- Sick of fighting the crowds at the Louvre, and every other major museum in Europe? Take heart in two new books put together by Rachel Kaplan. "Little Known Museums" -- for both London and Paris -- takes readers away from the crowds to museums that are often overlooked in two of Europe's most traveled cities. Plenty of pictures are included in each book to help art aficionados find museums to match their taste.

Bourbon Street, or the Haight?

Fodor's "Compass American Guides: New Orleans" -- Some travelers prefer to get advice from the natives, and in "Compass American Guide: New Orleans," they get just that. Bethany Bultman, who has lived in New Orleans for 25 years and is married to a fifth generation New Orleanian, spins a guide of tips that oozes with "Big Easiness." The guide -- rich with photographs -- covers everything that makes New Orleans an American treasure, including the history and people, the writers who have lived there, Mardi Gras, music and, of course, the best places to sample New Orleans cuisine, from café au lait to crawfish etoufée. There's even a section on "New Orleanese" -- the lingo heard on the streets of the Crescent City.

Frommer's "San Francisco From $60 a Day" -- The introduction reveals this book's no-nonsense approach to living large in the City by the Bay: "Traveling on a budget in San Francisco means doing what its denizens do every day." With that, the Frommer's book takes tourists to the finest of inexpensive attractions in and around the city. The guide is filled with tips, with the majority of the book devoted to the sections "Accomodations You Can Afford," "Great Deals on Dining," and "Exploring the City," which gives the inside word on where to hang, and what to avoid.

Griswolds not welcome

"Simplify Family Travel" by Christine Loomis -- Family travel is easy. It's fun. It's organized. And it's stress-free. That is, if you follow the advice of travel writer Christine Loomis. She reveals strategies she's uncovered through years "as a travel writer and mother of three (well-traveled) children." The result: a book that will have you thinking of everything in advance, soliciting your kids' input, packing early, following a plan of action, and, most of all, enjoying a "full day's play" with your kids. "Your best bet as a traveling parent is to go with the flow -- and expect some rapids," Loomis writes. "That way, if all goes well, you'll be pleasantly surprised."