When I first heard about Passports with Purpose, I knew it was something I had to get involved in. Each year, travel bloggers pick a worthy cause and procure a prize for a raffle. Bloggers spread the word about the raffle, their readers donate $10 for each ticket, some win awesome prizes and everyone makes a difference in the world. Pretty great, right?

This year, Passports with Purpose is building a school in Cambodia with the nonprofit organization American Assistance for Cambodia (AAfC). The AAfC is dedicated to improving opportunities for the youth and rural poor in Cambodia. As of right now, Passports with Purpose is only $400 away from their goal of $13,000 to build a school in rural Cambodia. With extra money, we can help improve the school with things like English and computer teachers, computers powered through solar panels, Internet access through a satellite dish or GPRS system, a well or water filter, a school nurse, a vegetable garden and a bookcase of books.

Why a school? Why Cambodia? Here’s what Delicious Baby’s Debbie Dubrow, a founding member of Passports with Purpose, had to say:

“One of the things I was struck by on my own visit to Cambodia was the strong spirit of hope, and the desire to rebuild both at a personal level and a national level, the intellectual society and successful economy that had been destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in the late ’70s. English language and computer schools seemed to be down every alleyway in Phnom Penh. Parents scrimped to sign young children up for lessons in English and computers and to learn the cultural arts that were all but lost during the Khmer Rouge Regime.

In rural areas, the sense of hope and the desire to rebuild might be just as strong, but the options are more limited. This year Passports with Purpose will establish a school in a rural area whose children have been deprived from any educational facilities. A school provides a much needed alternative to poverty or sex trafficking.”

I’m sold. Are you? Hop on over to the Passports with Purpose website and check out all the fantastic prizes, which include cameras, hotel stays, travel gear and much more! For each $10 donation that you make to AAfC, you will will be entered in the giveaway(s) of your choice. The fundraiser closes on December 21 and all proceeds go directly to AAfC.

WanderTot’s giveaway is $100 gift certificate to PosterBrain, where you can get premium-quality photo enlargements of your travels, your family or whatever you want! These enlargements are printed on 200-year archival photographic paper with a satin finish. Their prices are fantastic too, so with $100 gift certificate, you could get four 24″ x 36″ prints. You can upload any photo to PosterBrain’s easy-to-use site: jpg, gif, png, tif, bmp, as long as it’s at least 1 megapixel. PosterBrain will print it and ship it within 24 hours. Thanks PosterBrain for joining me in supporting such a great cause!

Disney just unveiled the newest cruise ship in the Disney fleet—the Disney Dream. And I promptly added a trip onboard to my “to do” list (right after “make a lot of money”). The Disney Dream is scheduled for completion in early 2011, but you can book your cruise starting November 9th. This is a ship that really takes that old saying to heart: “It’s not about where you go; it’s about how you get there.”

I am seriously drooling over this ship. Disney is just so good at making things really, truly magical, you know? I suppose that is why they’re always ahead of the pack when it comes to innovation. The Disney Dream is no exception, boasting several cruise industry firsts, including virtual portholes and the first onboard water coaster, the AquaDuck.

The virtual porthole windows in the inside staterooms will show a real-time view outside the ship from HD cameras placed on top of the ship. The virtual window may be even better than the real thing, as occasionally animated characters like Peach, the starfish from Finding Nemo, and Mickey Mouse will come by to say hi. I could probably actually manage to get ready in the morning while Jack watches the window, waiting for the next character to pop up.

Wondering what the heck a water coaster is? From what I can tell, you ride on two-person rafts through a clear acrylic tube up, down and around the ship. The ride will be 765 feet long and will feature a four-deck drop and a brief point where you are off the side of the ship, looking at the ocean below. The AquaDuck is not for the little ones and has a 48″ height requirement. Maybe we will actually be able to afford to go when Jack is that tall! Except by then I’m sure they’ll have a ship even bigger and cooler that I just HAVE to go on. Dang it, Disney, stop making such cool stuff! You might stimulate the economy or something.

Everything else about the ship shows Disney’s tireless attention to detail. The rooms look gorgeous, the kid’s areas are nothing less than enchanting, the dining is topnotch, the adult areas are sophisticated and the exclusive clubs for teens and tweens might actually charm this notoriously difficult-to-please age group.

OK, I could go on and on about the Disney Dream, but I’m starting to sound like a salesperson, so you should just check it out for yourself on Disney’s website.

As I’m sure most moms do, I try to do everything I can to help my son’s developing brain. I have always assumed the traveling we do together has a positive impact on his brain development. I mean, how could it not? It definitely makes a difference when teaching Jack new words. His vocabulary is astounding for a 21-month-old. Sure, I can point to a picture of a manatee in a book and maybe eventually he’ll get it. Take him to see one at SeaWorld and he gets it immediately.

VacationBetter.org released a new analysis on a study by the U.S. Department of Education yesterday supporting my theory. The study examined a group of first graders to determine whether there was any relationship between going on vacation (as well as things like where they went and how long they spent there) and their academic achievement in reading, mathematics and general knowledge. The findings showed that kids who took a summer vacation significantly outperformed their peers on academic achievement assessment tests. The length of the trip had a “modest significant” relationship with academic achievement.

I was a little surprised by their finding that it didn’t seem to matter whether the kids went on a relaxing beach vacation or headed to historical sites and science museums. According to the study, kids who went to plays or concerts, art or science museums, historical sites, beaches or lakes, national or state parks, and zoos or aquariums all had significantly higher academic achievement scores than those who did not.

I think just getting to spend that quality time with their families without the distractions of daily life has a positive impact on every aspect of a child’s development, not just academically. I know it can be tough in this economy, but parents should try to cut from other areas to make room in the budget for travel. Not only does every parent need and deserve a vacation, it’s good for the kids too. So start saving those pennies for a trip to the beach!

I LOVE Harry Potter. So when I saw the news today detailing Universal’s plans for a new Harry Potter theme park, I was thrilled, even though it’ll be a long time before my 20-month-old son will appreciate it.

According to Universal’s website, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be “inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters—and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films.” In fact, many of the people who worked on the sets for the films are heavily involved in designing the new park. Sounds promising.

The 20+-acre park located within Universal’s Islands of Adventure will completely immerse you in the wizarding world. As you step into the park, you will see the Hogwarts Express at the Hogsmeade Station, glistening and billowing steam. In Hogsmeade village, you will be able to visit many of the iconic shops from the books: get jokes at Zonko’s, chocolate frogs at Honeydukes, remembralls at Dervish and Banges, and let a wand choose you at Ollivander’s. You will be able to stop into the Three Broomsticks restaurant and Hog’s Head pub for traditional British fare, including butterbeer and pumpkin juice, then send a postcard postmarked from Hogsmeade at the Owl Post (next door to the Owlery, of course).

Towering over Hogsmeade, Hogwarts castle will feature an experience called “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.” Details on this were vague, but intriguing. Apparently, it will use brand-new technology to bring the castle to life, whatever that means. Sounds good to me. There will also be “Dragon Challenge,” two high-speed roller coasters inspired by the first challenge of the Triwizard Tournament, along with a tamer roller coaster, “Flight of the Hippogriff.”

J.K. Rowling created a whole other world with her Harry Potter series. Now it seems we may get to enter into that world for a time. It’ll be a nice change from other theme parks’ cutesy nature while remaining a fantastic escape from reality. Count me in.