I found the Grand Canyon more akin to opening the centerfold in my Geology textbook.
For a more real visual treat, Bryce Canyon is the place to go. The features of the view are right in front of you, and you can walk thru them and touch them.
Try that at the Grand Canyon, and you are inches deep in mule manure.
Bryce and Canyonlands are must sees!
If you stay overnight at the grand canyon and get to watch how it changes in different light, it’s pretty incredible. Personally, I think it lived up to the hype 100%.
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, deeper than the Grand Canyon (IIRC), and they used to allow rock climbing.