THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE A MOTOR HOME RV VACATION NOW MIGHT BE BEST ALTERNATIVE.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Planned fly-to vacations and trips are on hold as the airlines and nation sort through the attack on terrorism and economic issues. It makes it a perfect time to check out America and the outdoors using a recreational vehicle, said Joe Kieva of Huntington Beach.

``In the short run, with the terrorist concern and all the hassles at the

airport, it makes travel harder,'' said Kieva, who with his wife, Vicki, travels the nation eight months a year in their 36-foot motor home. They average 25,000 miles a year, circling the U.S. twice.

``Things are uncertain,'' Kieva said. ``Families want to travel a little closer to their home and when they travel, they want to keep their families close.

``It's the perfect fit for RVing. Families are right there with you and it's not inconvenient, like the airport. I really think RVing is going to take off because of what happened. People are going to take shorter vacations and shorter trips, near their homes, and this fits in perfectly.''

The Kievas will be at the 49th annual California RV Show, the only recreational vehicle show in California offered by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. It will be Friday through Oct. 21 at Fairplex Park.

The show will feature more than 1,800 RVs, including the introduction of the 2002 models. There will be travel trailers, motor homes, fifth wheels, tent trailers, slide-in campers, mini-motor homes, buses, van conversions, folding-tent trailers and park models. There will also be daily seminars, sweepstakes, music, personalities and 40,000 square feet of RV products and accessories.

Kieva said he regularly does a seminar on safety, calling RVs safer than any other form of vacation.

``In today's world, I really think RVing is an attractive alternative,'' he said. ``I think people are trying to stay away from busy spots, like Disneyland and whatnot, and they're more willing to get out in the open spaces. In the long haul, I think all of us are going to develop an attitude about what has happened, but eventually, it will be thought of like hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and ice storms. It will be part of life. People will accept that it is out there, although it might be inconvenient.''

One aspect of the situation, Kieva said, is the reintroduction of families to RVing.

``We used to teach a college course and if a person wandered in that did not have gray hair, we'd tell them they were in the wrong class,'' he said. ``We were always right. But RVing is no longer graying. We're really seeing a lot of young families with their (kids) going for low-cost equipment.''

At the show, which the Kievas will give a seminar each day at 1:30 p.m., there will be two grand prizes in a giveaway, a Splash travel trailer from National RV, an Eagle folding-camp trailer from Jayco and a Kawasaki personal watercraft from Temecula Motorsports. Also given away will be trips to Catalina Island and Laughlin, Nev.

ON THE MOVE

What: 49th annual California RV Show

Where: Fairplex Park

When: Friday-Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Tickets: Adults, $6; seniors, $5; children ages 12-under, free.

Phone: [phone].

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ON THE MOVE (see text)