If you couldn't visit both the Grand Canyon and Yosemite but had to pick just one, which one would you pick? And why? My grandmother invited me on a holiday to the USA, she didn't give me much notice though, we're leaving next week! So now I'm trying to make some kind of plan and after lots of pondering and calculating I've found out that there's no room for more than one national park in my schedule. But I have absolutely no idea which one to choose!

If anyone has to offer some advise, it would be greatly appreciated!

Yosemite would be the most soothing and restorative of those two choices, simply because of it's size and beauty. You could spend some time there and have plenty to see, if you are an outdoor personality and love to walk or ride horse back. It makes you feel so...real. It's green and lush and goes on forever.

However, if you are looking for drama and total culture shock - go to the desert and take in the Grand Canyon. The sheer size is dazzling - plus I promise you have nothing like this in the Netherlands. It is so very different from anything at home. The intense dry heat, the crisp air, the smell of pine drifting by from time to time.The jaggedness and clean - edged feeling of the place is lovely. When in this part of the country I can always feel my insides shift and grow, in some unexplainable way. I'm a little stronger and more clear headed when I come back. Can you tell I'm originally from out west and might be just a little biased?

Leau, I'd have to second what Kate said even though I've never visited Yosemite. The Grand Canyon is one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen, and you know that I've seen alot in the U.S.A. You can look at pictures and posters all day long of the Grand Canyon and see that it is pretty, but until you've actually stood on the rim, looked down, took in the view from horizon to horizon, you have no idea how much it will take your breath away.

I'd go to Yellowstone, myself, but if that's not available as far as geography goes, then I might choose Yosemite. Part of this may be colored by the fact that I've been to the Grand Canyon, and NOT Yosemite, but honestly, I thought the Grand Canyon itself was anti-climactic. I didn't get to spend more than 45 minutes there, we were just driving through, but I far preferred the park AROUND the Grand Canyon over the canyon itself. But, that's my taste, I guess, which is probably the other reason I would choose Yosemite.

I've seen both and grew up being able to stay with my relatives who were the rare ones who had a place in the park in Yosemite(they had worked as rangers in the fifties and it was still possible)
They are both incredibly beautiful places, but I'd see the Grand Canyon for the sheer awesome beauty.
If I had to choose I mean.
It's surreal.

Bear in mind that any attraction anywhere is going to have a lot of crappy stuff around it in terms of tourist attractions but some places do better than others in repelling it.
The worst one for that has to be Mount Rushmore...

I think that if you are impressed by the size of something, then The Grand Canyon would suit you, but I would suggest that instead of just standing at the top and marvelling at its size and beauty, talk a walk down to the river.
Once inside the Canyon, you have a different perspective.
It took me 90 minutes to walk down and six hour to walk up, and you need plenty of water.
Have not been to Yosemite but spent a week in Yellowstone park, it was magical, seeing animals in the wild I had only seen on TV. Moose, elk, beaver and lots of little gophers or chipmunks.
Tough choice

I've never had the opportunity to see either, but I have always had a hankering to see the Grand Canyon. Not sure why, though.

I haven`t been to either place but for me it would have to be Yosemite. To see the giant sequoias would be fantastic along with seeing the North American wildlife. I have a friend that lives near there that collects fossils as well and I would like to do a little fossicking myself.

I hope you have a fun holiday Leau.

The Grand Canyon! Take the helicopter ride, too. Then, just walk along the south rim away from other people and their cell phones and enjoy the most spectacular view God has given us mere mortals.

For the Grand Canyon, you can also take a river rafting trip. The trips through the canyon are booked years in advance, but if you travel up to Page, Arizona (near the Utah border) you can raft down placid waters on the Colorado River towards the Grand Canyon usually within the same day of arriving. The river route takes you through some beautiful canyons, not on the scale of The Grand Canyon, but pretty impressive themselves. We did that two years ago and had a great time and took some beautiful pictures.

I hope you didn't have to keep going back down to get your pail of water, Mochyn?

Wow, CSue! Thanks for the tip. [wish I'd known that several years ago] We didn't even inquire about the ride through the canyon, because everybody seems to know it's booked to the teeth. Any white water at all on the float?

No whitewater on the part of the river we were on. I'm not sure, but there may have been some a little further down the river. There may have been longer trips, but I can't remember. The trip starts at the base of the dam, which means that the river is fed from the bottom of the dam and the water is cold! Something like 48 degrees F. all the time, even in the heat of the summer. We went down it during the middle of July and the water feels like the ice water in an ice chest. However, even though it was all placid waters, it still was a wonderfully fun trip with such beautiful scenery.

Ah, I just remembered something. Have you seen the movie Broken Arrow with John Travolta and Christian Slater? The canyon scenes were filmed here.