Researching vacation possibilities on the Web can lead you to places you might otherwise overlook, such as Ottawa, the seat of Canada's government and a gateway to huge areas for sightseeing and outdoor recreation in surrounding areas of Ontario and Quebec.

Start out with the city's Tourism and Convention Authority —— www.ottawatourism.ca/. Click on your favorite language, and look for "Ottawa at a Glance" to get acquainted, and check the calendar for events such as the Police Tattoo, celebrating the local police force's 150th anniversary.

Then move on to "What to Do" and browse through museums, a tour of Parliament and more. And be sure to look through "Book a Visit" to see what sort of food, lodging and entertainment package deals are available. You can find Web sites for some of those high points, including the Royal Canadian Mint, by going to the bottom of the page at Travel Ads Canada —— www.traveladscanada.com/Ottawa/Ottawa.htm —— and clicking on "Attractions."

Expand your vision across Canada's Capital Region —— www.canadascapital.gc.ca/ —— which includes Ottawa and the adjacent city of Gatineau. Click on "Explore the Outdoors" to read about the Rideau Canal Skateway, the "World's Longest Skating Rink," which takes skaters through the capital region every winter.

Outside the city, the Rideau Canal Waterway —— www.rideau-info.com/index.html —— extends through scenic countryside and towns all the way to the city of Kingston, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario and the gateway to the Thousand Islands.

Go a little farther afield from the city by heading up the Ottawa Valley —— www.ottawavalley.org/ —— along the Ontario-Quebec boundary. Hit "Communities" to explore the towns along the valley, and then dive into "Things to Do" for information on hiking, whitewater trips and outfitters that will set you up with boats, camping gear and kayak lessons.

At the Capital Region Web site you might have noticed a link to Gatineau Park —— www.canadascapital.gc.ca/gatineau/index(underline)e.asp — a large preserve north of the Capital Region that includes lakes, mountains, waterfalls and a cave. Take a scenic drive on three parkways, or park the car and ride a horse, mountain bike or hang glider. Waterfalls? They're all over Ontario and there's a Web site —— www.start.ca/users/mharris/waterfalls/ —— that offers information on finding them.

Gatineau is part of an enormous region called the Outaouais —— -www.outaouais-tourism.ca/ —— spreading across the southwestern corner of Quebec. This could be a vacation trip all by itself, with a dozen rivers, hundreds of lakes, wildlife reserves, alpine and cross-country ski areas, hunting and fishing, and much more. If camping isn't your thing, there are dozens of hotels, and bed & breakfast inns.