Many Google Maps mashups are geared towards sightseers, and let you know what to see, where to stay and what to eat.

In a sign of the power of Google Maps mashups, the government of New York City has embraced them on its nycgo.com Web site. In a guest entry on Google's official blog last year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this Big Apple navigation guide for looking up entertainment, restaurants and hotels.

Some cool examples out there include the Wines and Times mashup lets people plan their own winery tours throughout the U.S., with over 3,200 vineyards and wineries clickable on the map.

Another neat one is Gruvr, a mashup lets music fans type in a band name and see where on the map upcoming shows will be.

Perfect Escapes lets you find hotels worldwide by clicking on a Google Map paired with hotel locations and Web pages.

As for the food, oodles of other custom-built Google Maps mashups list restaurants for many cities and neighborhoods to get the word out on where the good eats can be found. Now on TechNewsDaily's staff's list of lunch items to check out: the grasshopper tacos and goat brain found on Bizarre Food in New York City.

Image Credit: Google Maps

Cool Google Maps Mashups, From the Practical to the Bizarre