Say “New York” and most people picture the skyline. But the state stretches far beyond the city, with mountains, lakes and history that surprise many visitors. Here are ten facts.

1. New York City was the first U.S. capital

Before Washington, D.C., the city served as the nation’s capital, and George Washington was inaugurated there in 1789.

2. The Adirondacks are enormous

Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States, bigger than several national parks combined.

3. It shares one of the world’s most famous waterfalls

Niagara Falls straddles the border with Canada and draws millions of visitors each year.

4. The state has thousands of lakes

From the Finger Lakes to Lake George, New York is rich in freshwater, and the Finger Lakes region is a celebrated wine area.

5. Potato chips may have been invented here

A popular story credits a chef in Saratoga Springs with creating the potato chip in the 1850s.

6. It is home to the oldest state park

The Niagara Reservation, established in 1885, is considered the oldest state park in the country.

7. Grand Central is bigger than it looks

Grand Central Terminal has more platforms than any other railroad station in the world.

8. The state has a “Grand Canyon”

Letchworth State Park, with its dramatic gorge and waterfalls, is nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East.”

9. Women’s rights history was made here

The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, a landmark in the women’s suffrage movement, took place in upstate New York.

10. It produces a lot of apples and maple syrup

New York is one of the country’s top apple-growing states and a major maple syrup producer.

Beyond the bright lights of the city lies a state of wilderness, history and small-town charm well worth exploring.