Pack light. Plan ahead.

Leonida has two seasons. The dry season, from November to April, brings warm days, cool nights and blue skies: it is the busiest time on Ocean Beach and in the Keys, and hotels cost the most.

The wet season, from May to October, is hot and humid, with a short thunderstorm most afternoons. Prices drop, the Grassrivers turn green and the beaches are quieter on weekdays.

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with most storms between August and October. A storm is announced days ahead: you will not be caught by surprise if you keep an eye on the alerts at the top of every State page.

• Book rooms and tours you can cancel or move without a fee.
• When a hurricane watch is issued where you are staying, think about leaving early.
• When an evacuation is ordered, visitors leave first, and the Keys are evacuated before the mainland. Follow the signs and the officers, not your phone’s shortcut.

Most visitors land at Vice City International, with flights from Liberty City twice a day and short hops to Leonida City and the Keys. The Metro rail link takes you from the terminal to Downtown Vice City in about 25 minutes.

Cruise passengers arrive at VC Port, a short taxi ride from Downtown and Ocean Beach. Drivers come in on Interstate 404 or on U.S. Route 1, which follows the east coast all the way down to the last key.

• In Vice City: the Metro rail line and buses, $2.50 a ride or $6 a day, and the free Ocean Beach trolley. You will not need a car downtown.
• Across the State: from January 12, Leonida Rail runs twelve trains a day between Vice City and Port Gellhorn, with stops in Ambrosia and on the shore of Lake Leonida, from $19 one way.
• By car: U.S. Route 1 for the coast and the Keys, Interstate 404 to cross the State fast. Toll roads read your plate; a LeoPass account saves about a quarter on every toll.
• To the Keys and the Grassrivers: rent a car. Buses are rare, and the best places are at the end of a long road.

• Vice City: art deco hotels on Ocean Beach, small guesthouses in Little Cuba, towers with a view in Downtown.
• Leonida Keys: guesthouses and fishing lodges around Key Lento. Book months ahead for the winter.
• Grassrivers: few beds and a lot of sky. Camp at Sawgrass Gate State Park, or sleep in a motel at the edge of the wetlands.
• Port Gellhorn: motels on the old strip and rooms near the waterfront. Many places are closed, so book before you drive out.
• Ambrosia and Lake Leonida: lakeside cabins at Lake Leonida State Park and motels in the farm towns.
• Mount Kalaga: the cabin village of Kalaga Springs State Park, campgrounds in the pines and lodges in the town of Kalaga Springs.

There is one road in and one road out. A crash on U.S. Route 1 can close a bridge for hours: fill the tank, carry water and keep some patience in the glove box.

The water is beautiful and can be dangerous. Never swim in the channels under the bridges, never snorkel alone, and check the beach flags and the current warnings before you go in. Inside the marine sanctuary, marked by yellow buoys, do not touch the coral or anchor on the reef.

Go between November and April, when the water is low, the birds gather and the mosquitoes rest. Take an airboat tour with a licensed operator, or walk the boardwalks of Sawgrass Gate.

Stay at least 30 feet from any alligator, and never feed one. Phones lose signal in much of the wetlands: tell someone your route and when you plan to be back. If you see a python, note the place and report it to POACH.

• In an emergency, call 911, anywhere in the State.
• Red flag on the beach: stay out of the water. Purple flag: jellyfish or other marine life nearby.
• Drink water, wear a hat and look for shade between noon and 3 p.m., even in winter.
• Buy tickets only from official sellers. The State never asks visitors for a card number by phone or text.
• Lost, or not sure where to go? The visitor line, (800) 555-0177, answers every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.