Newsletter ranks top 10 ‘small’ cities

New York — Looking for a quick getaway vacation in a city that’s safe, small, fun and fascinating?

Check out the new top 10 list from TravelSmart, the consumer newsletter. To qualify, cities had to have a population of less than 1.5 million, a diverse array of cultural activities and an absence of clustered skyscrapers.

The winners were Charleston, S.C.; Cleveland; Detroit; Louisville, Ky.; Milwaukee; Portland, Maine; Portland, Ore.; St. Louis, Mo.; San Antonio, Texas, and Sarasota, Fla.

For details, see www.TravelSmartNewsletter.com.

Book recommends S. California getaways

San Francisco — Just in time for planning the perfect Valentine’s Day vacation, Chronicle Books is offering an update of “Weekends for Two in Southern California: 50 Romantic Getaways” ($17.95).

The book’s recommendations, revised for its third edition, range from sailing in Newport Beach to oceanfront inns, hip hotels, woodsy bed-and-breakfasts and garden villas.