The pear industry has thrived here for about 120 years thanks in great part to Harry and David Rosenberg, two brothers who pioneered their own mail-order fruit company back in the 1930s and turned it into one of the world's top gift-basket retailers. Today, you can watch as workers gingerly handpack pears, apples, and dip-ready giant strawberries.

JUNGLE FEVER The 32-acre Bamboo Parc Nursery raises about 50 varieties of bamboo, some with such exotic names as Silverstripe, Shiroshima, and Golden Goddess. 2336 Ross Ln., (541) 770-6893, www.bambooparc.com.

Reminders of Medford's earlier days also show up at Porters, inside a restored 1910 railway station. Feast on tried-and-true entrées such as fish-and-chips or innovations like meat loaf in a tangy chipotle barbecue sauce while eyeing vintage rail posters, antique toy trains, and photos of the station during its heyday.

The city's answer to suburban shopping malls is the historic Main Street Market building, home to a medley of quirky shops including Simply Posh (check out their great handbag selection) and Dancing Beads. At the popular lunch spot Deli Down, the walls are lined with autographed photos of Bill Cosby, the Indigo Girls, and other performers who've appeared at the renowned Britt Festivals in nearby Jacksonville.

Pick up bargain reads for as little as a quarter at the Friends of the Medford Library Book Shop, then head over to Mellelo Coffee Roasters for a soul-warming latte.

The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, a renovated performing arts center named for the famous dancer—and former Medford resident—presents an energetic mix of live entertainment, from the musical Cats to concerts by multiple Grammy Award–winner Bobby McFerrin. It's the perfect complement for a town that celebrates its past with a touch of artistic grace while still remaining ripe for the picking.