THE WHALE WATCHER'S GUIDE.

If you're running out of amazing wildlife stories to tell your friends, it may be time for a new adventure. Why not leave them speechless with a whale tale? Patricia Corrigan's The Whale Watcher's Guide: Whale-Watching Trips in North America (North-Word Press, $12.95) is an in-depth look at how to pick a trip and what to expect, while reviewing participating tours, museums, aquariums and national parks. The helpful list of whale organizations, programs and suggested readings will certainly point whale watchers in the right direction.

And once you have a destination, don't forget to pick up Barron's Nature Travel Guides: On the Trail of Whales (Editions Nathan, $11.95). This colorful guide, written by Jean-Michel Dumont and Remy Marion, offers detailed descriptions of whale behavior, reproduction and migration routes, while profiling whale-watching "hot spots"--and how to get to them, where to stay and when to visit.