Sitting in our train, we were launched by two fairground workers like a bobsleigh down a run - before hurtling through a three minute thrill ride, with a brakeman between the carriages.
Welcome to Great Yarmouth's grade II listed wooden rollercoaster, which dates back to 1928, runs on gravity, and has no brakes! Ever since it was shipped and installed in 1932, 'The Scenic' has been the pride of the town's Pleasure Beach, which with Blackpool is the country's only continuously open seaside amusement park - you may remember it from the video for Madness' House of Fun.
When we dropped into the family-run Sara's Tearooms next door for delicious fish and chips and homemade cake, the owner told us his summer working as The Scenic's brakeman was the best of his life. I'll bet.
Today it's one of 20 rides you can enjoy with a wristband or fun pass, which kept our gaggle of teenagers happy for hours, with dodgems and white-knuckle rides.
Yarmouth, as it's known by locals, is packed with traditional seaside fun, from a model village to the spectacular circus at The Hippodrome. Along 'The Golden Mile' of seafront, there's a Marina Centre with water cannon and slides, and Sea Life Aquarium with rays, giant turtle, and a walk-through tunnel surrounded by sharks.
The town's Venetian Waterways were constructed in the late 1920s and the network of formal gardens and canals, where you can hire a pedalo or gondola, reopened four years ago as a social enterprise. There are also plans afoot to do up the derelict Grade II* listed Winter Gardens.
You can also just grab a bucket and spade, and enjoy acres of golden sand, or explore the town's maritime history at the Time and Tide Museum.
We stayed in a modern lodge at Richardson's Holiday Park up the coast at Hembsy. The seaside village has been in the news in a bad way recently for its coastal erosion, which has seen heartbroken homeowners have to vacate properties too close to the cliffs.
The park itself is neatly kept, with play areas, swimming pool, wellness centre, high ropes course, and two bars and restaurants. There's evening entertainment, and daytime activities from archery to water-zorbing - the whole idea is a place where families can enjoy themselves together.
It worked for us. Our lodge was a spacious haven with two bathrooms, a fully kitted kitchen, and hot tub, so adults could relax with bubbles and a book, while teens were delighted with the pool tables, amusements, and a basketball court.
A few miles further north at Winterton and Horsey Gap is a seal colony where at certain times of the year, you can see the new pups playing on the beach. If you venture into the North Sea, don't be surprised to spot a sleek bewhiskered head looking at you with curious eyes.
Gt Yarmouth is the gateway to The Norfolk Broads, and just seven miles from Hembsy at Martham Ferry Boatyard you can hire an electric boat for a day or half day.
Early one Sunday morning, our super quiet craft put out on near empty waters with cygnets and ducklings gliding across our path. A half day gets you to beautiful Hickling Broad, with its thatched houses and nature reserve. You can see cranes, marsh harrier - and a kingfisher if you are lucky. Turn left on your way back, and motor up to Horsey where the recently restored National Trust Windpump offers a picture postcard Norfolk scene.
The next day we visited Thrigby Hall, a wildlife park set in lovely gardens with an easy route around wooden walkways.
I needn't have worried that teens might be too old for a zoo; they were fascinated by the variety of crocodiles, alligators and a giant python, and the chance to get up close to big cats such as snow leopards and tigers.
Thrigby also has red pandas, vocal gibbons, and meerkats. You can picnic on the lawn in front of the house after your tour, but we settled down at one of the Broads' waterside pubs for a drink and a people watch. It was the perfect end to a lively but relaxing holiday.
For more information on attractions and visiting Great Yarmouth go to https://www.visitgreatyarmouth.co.uk.
A three night break in a Platinum Plus 2 Lodge with hot tub starts from £749 and a week’s stay from £1165. www.richardsonsholidayparks.co.uk
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