# A bunch of water or a big hole **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433 "2011-07-26T21:54:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/1 "2011-07-26T21:54:07Z")
For those that have visited neither, would you rather visit Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/2 "2011-07-26T22:12:30Z")
I’ve driven past both but never stopped. In fact my opinion of Niagara may be completely full of shit; I haven’t even looked it up online…I voted on the basis of assumptions and may well be wrong. I voted Grand Canyon. Because I know one can hike and explore the area for hours, or days. (I’ve done a lot of hiking in AZ backcountry and loved it.) My impression of Niagara Falls: one visits, stands on some sort of viewing platform, says ooh a lot and takes a few photos, then drives away. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/3 "2011-07-26T22:49:34Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > My impression of Niagara Falls: one visits, stands on some sort of viewing platform, says ooh a lot and takes a few photos, then drives away. I think you’ll find your description of Niagara Falls here is actually pretty spot on for the majority of visitors to the Grand Canyon as well. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/4 "2011-07-26T22:54:33Z")
Niagara. I like waterfalls and I have zero desire to see the southwest. I’d go see the Canyon if someone else was paying but I’m not going to go out of my way to see it otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/5 "2011-07-27T00:18:27Z")
Grand Canyon, but I’ve been to Niagara Falls. Also, it depends on the season. If my visit had to be during the infernal summer of the sticky tourists, then I’d chose the falls for the cooling mists and relative cleanliness. ETA: Missed that “visited neither” part. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/6 "2011-07-27T00:19:31Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I’ve driven past both but never stopped. In fact my opinion of Niagara may be completely full of shit; I haven’t even looked it up online…I voted on the basis of assumptions and may well be wrong. > > I voted Grand Canyon. Because I know one can hike and explore the area for hours, or days. (I’ve done a lot of hiking in AZ backcountry and loved it.) > My impression of Niagara Falls: one visits, stands on some sort of viewing platform, says ooh a lot and takes a few photos, then drives away. yes, this, also, while I’m sure Niagra Falls are really groovy and all to see, but, meh, I’ve seen better ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/7 "2011-07-27T00:25:38Z")
I’ve visited both, and the Big Hole is the one I’d go back to. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/8 "2011-07-27T00:35:32Z")
Subtract mine as I’ve been to both also, but voted GC. Which is ironic as I love New York waterfalls, I guess there’s just so many to choose from that are just as beautiful as Niagara, and for spectacle, the Grand Canyon is unsurpassed. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/9 "2011-07-27T01:01:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I’ve visited both, and the Big Hole is the one I’d go back to. I have visited both. And they are both impressive. But I prefer the Falls. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/10 "2011-07-27T01:56:45Z")
I don’t meet the criteria for the poll since I have visited Niagara Falls, but I am planning to visit the Grand Canyon this fall. I’ve been to smaller canyons and umpteen waterfalls and generally enjoyed the falls more. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/11 "2011-07-27T02:03:45Z")
Neither one interests me that much. I think I could appreciate the Grand Canyon for it’s size with just a flyover, so I voted Niagara, it’s the one I would actually go visit. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/12 "2011-07-27T02:22:38Z")
Been to both, but I need to go back to Niagara Falls to ride the the Maid of the Mist. (I want to say I’ve been to the site of Pam and Jim’s wedding!😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/13 "2011-07-27T02:39:38Z")
Growing up, Niagara Falls was a 20 minute ride away. I’ve seen the Horseshoe Falls so many times it doesn’t excite me any more . I saw the Grand Canyon last year( it was on my bucket list) and was quite impressed and glad I spent the time and money to see it. Once is enough though. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/14 "2011-07-27T03:29:26Z")
Been to both and prefer the Canyon. However, there are prettier canyons worth seeing in the Southwest just as there are better falls than Niagara. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/15 "2011-07-27T14:06:51Z")
I would choose Niagara Falls, so I could impersonate that little boy in Superman 2, doing the hand-swapping trick on the safety barrier. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/16 "2011-07-27T14:12:17Z")
I just love water. While I’d be happy to see the Grand Canyon and wouldn’t turn down the opportunity, to me, a vacation means going near water or close to water or seeing water. Ocean, lake, river. Waterfall. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/17 "2011-07-27T16:58:09Z")
Karl Pilkington, is that you? FTR, I’ve been to the Big Hole. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/18 "2011-07-27T17:43:12Z")
Niagra. I’m given to understand that there are casinos across the river, not to mention some sort of fireworks and/or laser show nightly, or something. The Grand Canyon is in the middle of nowhere. ETA: I’ve spent some time in deserts, and they freak me right the hell out. Not being anywhere near water scares me, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/19 "2011-07-27T17:53:22Z")
I take it the Grand Canyon is allowing me to explore it and not just look over the canyon from a platform. I have no interest in exploring the falls. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433/20 "2011-07-27T18:05:10Z")
I’ve been to both and was equally impressed by both, but if it was my primary vacation destination I’d pick the Grand Canyon because there is more to see and do there. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bunch-of-water-or-a-big-hole/590433.md?page=2)