Orlando in 24 hours. Impossible right? With Epcot, Universal Studios, and Disney World all right there, how is it possible to do Orlando in just 24 hours? Obviously, a long weekend or seven-day trip to Orlando is ideal. However, there is more to Orlando than just amusement parks and plenty you can do in just 24 hours.

To kickstart your day, begin at Clarkie's for breakfast. This is a no non-sense, down-home establishment. This no frills restaurant has all the southern favorites, including eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and more. Clarkie's most popular entree is their pancakes.

With it still being morning, this is a good time to explore some of Orlando's many lakes. Orlando has one of the highest populations of lakes in the U.S. Some of these have public parks and walking areas. A few of the lakes offer swan boats and other types of boats that are good for getting in some water time. For an alternate activity, take the half-hour drive to Cape Canaveral to see where some of the world's most famous space expeditions have launched from.

Even on a short trip to metropolis Florida, you see signs of the swamp everywhere. Just south of downtown Orlando is the alligator capital of the world with Gatorland. The 110-acre park is part theme park and part wildlife reserve. This may be cliché Florida, but it's worth the trip and your best chance of seeing alligators.

For a late afternoon snack, head north of downtown Orlando to Winter Park to the Black Bean Deli. Similar to Clarkie's, this doesn't look like much from the outside, but is one of the most popular lunch spots in the Orlando area. The menu features Cuban sandwiches and other Cuban fare that you'll find at few other restaurants.

Historic Downtown Orlando is worth a visit, even offering daily walking tours. Experiencing downtown Orlando is a good transition before you start to wind down your day. Just south of downtown Orlando off of International Drive there are several notable restaurants, including Vito's Chop House, Cafe Tu Tango, and Bahama Breeze. After a light dinner, you can walk to nearby Howl at the Moon for a nightcap. Howl at the Moon is a dueling piano bar and a must if you've never been to one.