The town square in France is called Place de la Mairie and it is where la Mairie (the city hall) is situated. In small towns the center might still be a locale where many social activities take place, and there might be a monument or a church or la Poste (the post office), or la préfecture de police (police station) or a sidewalk café.

People in France drive less than Americans do, especially in big cities where there are many traffic problems. The métro (subway) system and the bus network are the most practical means of getting around. Sometimes children walk to school, but they may also take the city buses or use the métro. However, French Canadians use their cars as much as Americans do because of the long distances and the cold Canadian winters. However, the buses and the metro are highly developed in Montreal. French people enjoy going for bicycle rides with friends and family and in Paris there are many paths that are reserved for cyclists and roller-bladers. In Quebec there is a bicycle lane called la route verte (the green road) that crosses the entire province. To leave town, you can buy passes for traveling on the trains in France and other European countries, but in Quebec a lot of people travel by plane because of the long distances between cities and towns.

Camping near a farm, by the seashore, or in the mountains is popular in France. There are many camping areas with sanitary facilities, as well as organized bicycle, hiking, and walking tours. In Quebec camping in a national reserve or in a national park is common during the summer months. People may choose to sleep in a tent or in a chalet rustique, where there is no running water or electricity.

Tennis, rugby and skiing are popular sports in France, and water sports such as water-skiing, wind surfing, and diving are becoming more popular too. In Quebec people like to fish and hunt on the weekends and during the winter season they might stay in their chalets and go skiing. Some people will prefer to travel to where the sun is shining since winters in Quebec are quite cold.