Old Town Main Street in downtown Seal Beach is quaint and relaxing. The seaside town is on the northern-most border of Orange County. Old Town's three short blocks offer plenty to do. And if all else fails, spend a day at the beach, the pier and Eisenhower Park.

BY PHILLIP ZONKEL >LA.COM

>dining

320 Main
320 Main St.
(562) 799-6246

www.threetwentymain.com

The owners call this dinner-only restaurant a classic steakhouse with a twist, "like Paul Revere meets Miles Davis." The macaroni and five cheeses, pan-seared salmon and baked potato are crowd-pleasers. Gourmet cupcakes and creme brulee highlight the dessert menu.

Beachwood BBQ
131 1/2 Main St.
(562) 493-4500

Everyone has opinions about barbecue and thinks he knows best. Well, give this one a try, or two. The menu selections are small (two types of ribs, three kinds of fish and single dishes of pork, chicken and sausage), but it's all good. Want sauce with the barbecue? Four are placed on the table.

Walt's Wharf Restaurant
201 Main St.
(562) 598-4433

www.waltswharf.com

It's the most famous restaurant in Seal Beach, started as a hobby by Walt Babcock, a dentist and deep-sea fishing enthusiast. Only the freshest available seafood, meat and produce are used, so the lunch and dinner menus change daily. Some sample offerings, however, might include salmon tacos, yellowfin tuna with mango-apricot and wasabi salsa or a crab cake sandwich.

>fashion

Kate Daniels
327 Main St.
(562) 430-7575

www.katedaniels.com

This women's boutique sells a variety of high-end denim, tops, bottoms and dresses from such hot and hip designers as D&G, Dsquared, Jenni Kayne, Nili Lotan, Alexander Wang and Hanii Y. Men's denim jeans from Genetic also are on the shelves. Cameron Diaz is one of the store's satisfied customers.

Yvette's Bikinis
113 Main St.
(562) 431-3106

www.resorttoswimwear.com

A tankini lover's dream, the swimwear specialty shop carries at least 10 different patterns and prints that are sexy and stylish, including Gottex. The store, in business for 37 years, is renowned for carrying tops sized from DD to G. Need swimwear for that December cruise? Don't fret. A wide selection is available year round.

>shopping

Ever been told to go fly a kite? Here's your first stop.

Up Up & Away! Kites!
139 1/2 Main St.
(562) 596-7661

www.upupandawaykites.com

If you want to fly a kite, flag or wind sock, here's the place to visit. This store sells more than 1,000 types of them. It also carries a variety of kite accessories, such as strings and tails. If you don't find the right kite, just wait. The shop is seasonal and will soon stock Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed kites.

>art & culture

If you're looking for a giant Wurlitzer pipe organ, you've found it.

Bay Theatre
340 Main St.
(562) 431-9988

www.baytheatre.com

Over the years, the 60-year-old Bay Theatre has been the home of mainstream movies, concerts and surfing films. Now the theater screens independent and foreign films, and presents weekly screenings of classics. Occasionally, silent films are unspooled with live accompaniment from a Wurltizer pipe organ, the largest in any theater in the world.

Red Car Museum
Next to Mary Wilson Library,
707 Electric Ave.
(562) 683-1874

www.beachcalifornia.com/redcarmuseum-seal-beach.html

Red Car Museum is an authentic Pacific Electric Right of Way Tower Car. Built in 1925, it was a roving machine shop sent out to troubleshoot problems along the 40-mile Pacific Electric L.A.-Newport Line. The museum Car now contains a carload of rail and historical memorabilia, including matchbooks, poker chips, a bingo set and cards used at the Airport Club, a sterling silver service set from the Jewell Cafe that stood at the foot of Seal Beach Pier and vintage photos. The museum is open from noon to 3 p.m. the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.