Planning the perfect Father’s Day trip just got a whole lot easier. Take the lead from Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, both adoring fans and repeat guests of Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. A visit here will most certainly deliver a successful father/son and/or child(ren) bonding experience and memories of a lifetime. And the list of reasons why runs long.

To begin, Elkhart Lake is more than a palatable discovery of the delicious 16-year-old sharp cheddar from fourth-generation owned Henning’s Wisconsin Cheese. And it’s more than the distinctive craft beer tasting at SwitchGear Brewing Co. While both are worthwhile visits while in town, there’s much more to a visit at this lake where Tom Cruise once owned a home.

Yes, Elkhart Lake draws celebrities who love to race cars, but it also attracts race spectators by the thousands. There are campsites near the Plymouth-based racetrack so visitors can watch the action up-close at Road America, or you can opt to book a stay at one of three “Dirty Dancing-esque” lakeside resorts nearby: The Osthoff Resort, Siebkens Resort (Paul Newman’s pick), or the fabulously redesigned Shore Club Wisconsin; all three resorts are within walking distance of each other in the tiny village of Elkhart Lake.

While Road America is a significant tourist attraction, so is the elk heart-shaped lake.

This spring-fed, 4-mile long, 120-feet deep body of water is touted for its healing properties. In fact, there are tens of thousands of springs under the 400-mile span of Elkhart Lake’s Mediterranean-tinted waters. The native Potawatomi Indians once bathed in the waters to be “rejuvenated and handsome again.”

For dads with young and/or adult children who love muscle cars, vintage cars and motorcycles (antique Chevrolet’s, Porsches, and more), the Throttlestop Museum will leave you salivating. And at Road America, you can also enjoy disc golf, go kart racing, UTV riding, and, of course, the spectator sport of car racing. A short ride away there’s golfing, and on the lake, fishing (and fly fishing). The Ice Age Trail is a beautiful place for hiking. And if you’re a wine connoisseur, you’re in luck with a stop at Vintage Elkhart Lake . Beer lovers will rejoice with craft beer tasting at SwitchGear Brewing Co., and there are plenty of options for dining around town or on-resort. In fact, there’s so much more that it’s best to create and follow an itinerary to please everyone in your family.

Fly into Milwaukee and make the hour drive to Elkhart Lake, or if you're in Chicago, you can take the train. Here’s a sample itinerary to whet your appetite:

Day One

You’ve arrived and it’s time to unpack and head to cocktail hour. If you’re staying at The Osthoff Resort, head to The Elk Room, if only for the spaciousness and view of the lake at sunset.

Day Two

The best breakfast is at Cottonwood Social at The Shore Club, so fuel up and then head to the 640 acres of Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine that is Road America. This motorsports complex with a 14-turn track hosts events and visitors who crave track time driving a go-kart and/or UTV, and offers motorcycle and driving schools.

Now that your adrenaline is pumped, head to the Ice Age Trail and walk it off during a two-mile hearty hike on landforms created by the glaciers of the last Ice Age.

Lunch at Amasa (opening soon as a partner to Lake Street Cafe) for the best Mexican menu. Check.

Relax lakeside and reflect on the day before walking to Vintage Elkhart Lake for snacks, and maybe a cigar and some Wisconsin cheese, or to select from approximately 250 tastes of curated wines from around the world. Pour your own from the dispense machines and scan the QR code to learn more about what you’re sipping.

Prefer to taste craft beer? A walk away is SwitchGear Brewing Co., a taproom where you can spend time together and taste a Pontoon Pounder and more.

Sunset is best experienced while on a pontoon cruise. Book yours ahead with Osthoff Watersports. After the sun sets, head to the resort’s Concourse Restaurant & Lounge for a cocktail and be sure to order a shared plate of tuna poke nachos as a starter to dinner. And if it’s Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night, head to the lakefront to listen to live music. If you’re chilly, take a spot at the bonfire and make s’mores while you’re there.

Day Three

Breakfast at Siebkens Resort awaits before a guided fishing tour. Catch and release striped bass, the local walleye, and then take a drive to check out the Throttlestop Museum. This consignment, storage, and custom detail warehouse is an eye-candy store filled with classic and mind-blowing vehicles and motorcycles that connect with history and fuel your desire to purchase your own collectible.

If golf’s your bag, you’ll want to head to Quit Qui Oc for a round of golf and then lunch on-site. Save room for a cheese tasting at Henning’s – be sure to taste the cheese curds and bring home a block of the 16-year-old cheddar… it is that good!

Head back to the lake and enjoy kayaking (or SUP if you prefer).

Be like Paul Newman and head to the Stop-Inn Tavern for dinner inside Siebkens Resort before heading to The Shore Club Tiki Bar for after-dinner drinks and fun. If your stay is longer, you will want to dine at the Paddock Club in the village and enjoy an Italian-inspired dinner. Yes, house-made pasta and panna cotta dessert is on the menu.

Charlene Peters is a travel writer and author of “Travel Makes Me Hungry: Tales of tastes and indigenous recipes to share,” available on Amazon.