Southeastern Connecticut did not bear the brunt of the weekend East Coast blizzard, but it proved to be the perfect storm for outdoor recreation, with temperatures in the 30s under bright sunny skies Sunday and several inches of light fluffy snow on the region’s hillsides.

Roger and Mayra Claudio of New London said they bought the last snow boogie board on the shelf at Wal-Mart Sunday morning for their 4-year-old daughter, Emely, and headed for one of the region’s favorite sledding spots at the Norwich Golf Course.

“I went down by myself!” Emely said proudly.

That proved no easy feat Sunday, as dozens of sledders of all ages on everything from snowboards, inflated tubes and foam boards to traditional sleds and toboggans hit the hill just off the parking lot at the New London Turnpike golf course.

For the Claudios, Sunday was their first time at the Norwich course, which they had heard about and which has been a longtime favorite spot for many families.

Mike Evans of Preston brought his daughter and several nieces and nephews ranging in age from 5 to 16 to the golf course Sunday. The group stopped at the local Benny’s store in Norwich first to buy snow boogie boards.

“We come here often,” Evans said. “It’s closer than anywhere else, and it’s nice here. Until they start charging. I hope they don’t ever do that."

In the half-full parking lot at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, a group of 20-somethings were taking turns doing doughnuts in their cars.

They had been there 15 minutes, they said, spinning their wheels on the slightly melted snow, when a pedestrian came up and knocked on the window.

"You have to stop," the man said. "We're here to get some peace and quiet."

One Groton doughnut enthusiast, who declined to give his name, said he and his friends had spent the weekend trying to stay ahead of the snowplows.

"I call the snow plowers the 'fun police,'" he said. "They kill fun."

In Stonington, large numbers of families flocked to the side of the viaduct leading into the borough to fly down the short, steep hill on their sleds. Within a few hours the hill had been worn bare in spots.

Along residential streets across the region, residents spent their afternoons digging out their cars and clearing sidewalks.

A few joggers were braving the weather, dodging snow piles, puddles and icy patches.

Amtrak service, running on a modified schedule, delivered passengers to a slightly slipperly platform at the the New London station Sunday morning.

"Watch your step," the conductor said.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday

m.shanahan@theday.com

Twitter: @martha_shan