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The haunting season is upon us again, and soon all the ghosts and ghouls will be crawling (or jumping) out of their hiding places to celebrate Halloween. If you pride yourself on surviving the latest Saw movie this time of year, we're here to help you get your next adrenaline fix. These nine haunted houses range from sorta spooky to totally terrifying. But remember, you are the best judge of your own or your child's capacity for fear, so be sure to trust your instincts and enter at your own risk.

Nightmare: Vampires
The beginning of this bone-chilling adventure seems innocent enough—a tour of the (artificial) Museum of Vampyric Artifacts, which sounds like it could actually be a New York institution. But suddenly, the museum is overrun by the bloodthirsty undead! No one will actually grab or bite you (except maybe the panicked visitor next to you), but beyond that all bets are off, as the eerily real-looking monsters surround and chase frightened mortals through creepy rooms and cramped corridors.

Haunted House
Generic name aside, the creators of Haunted House have really upped the ante when it comes to scaring the pants off of even the most hardened New Yorkers. None of it sounds too out of the ordinary (it's dark, people touch you), unless you consider rule number one: you have to walk through alone. No exceptions. Haunted House's first foray into terrifying the public was in May with A Midsummer Nightmare, when almost 700 people walked through the venue (alone) and more than 75 people didn't make it. (OK, they weren't literally scared to death, but they did ask to be pulled out.) This one is definitely not for the faint of heart—or the kiddies, as no one under 18 is allowed.

Blood Manor
This venue is not so much ghostly as it is deranged. The haunted (ware)house in Chelsea is full of blood (naturally), bodies and mental patients. If just the sound of that makes you squeamish, wait until you actually step inside. The screams emanating from this spooky spot can only be described as bloodcurdling.

After Dark at Madame Tussauds
The lifelike re-creations of celebrities and historical figures at Madame Tussauds are creepy to some in daylight and, at the very least, fascinating in their uncanny resemblance to their living counterparts (as made evident by multiple pranks involving real celebrities convincingly posing as their wax figures). Few know French artist Marie Tussaud's backstory, though. Before setting up the original museum in London, she was forced to make death masks for executed nobles—among them Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI—to prove allegiance to her country during the French Revolution. Venture into the unlit museum after dark if you dare. But first, a warning: it may be difficult to tell which figures lurking in the darkness are made of wax and which are not.

Flesh Feast
A wooded trail cloaked in darkness and a slaughterhouse make for some pretty scary sights—and screams—on the edge of Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Staten Island. This one's pretty terrifying (although not as traumatizing as Haunted House), but older children love it. If Flesh Feast were a movie, we'd rate it PG-13.

Haunted House on the Pier at Sequoia
This 21+ costume party is more like a haunted nightclub than a haunted house. With two floors of terror, two DJs and bottles and drink specials by Hennessy (table reservations are available), this shindig will definitely be one hell of a good time. Costumes are mandatory, and the grim reaper will be enforcing the dress code, so best not to take your chances being anything less than decked out.

Queens County Farm Museum Haunted House
As always, the Queens County Farm Museum offers an all-ages (but still spooky) Halloween experience. Its haunted house is recommended for children ages 4 to 12, but it will probably make grown-ups jump a few times, too. After the frights, enjoy other autumn festivities, including pumpkin picking, a corn maze and hayrides; apple cider and Halloween treats will also be available. On October 25, go early for the Children's Fall Festival, where kids can wear their costumes and enjoy games like sack races, trinkets-in-the-haystack, pony rides and a petting zoo.

Haunted Barn at Prospect Park Zoo
Boo at the Zoo is one of the New York zoos' most popular events, and why wouldn't it be? Guests get to watch baboons play with pumpkins, in addition to doing other cute, Halloween-themed activities. After touring the (kid-friendly) haunted barn, little ones will get the chance to meet some creepy critters up close (while supervised by professionals, of course), make holiday crafts and have their faces painted.

Gravesend Inn
Gravesend Inn is an annual production put on by the New York City College of Technology's entertainment technology department. After 10 years of experience (the tradition started in 1999), the NYCCT crew has got all the technological tricks and treats down pat. It's even one of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's favorite haunts. The scares are all in good fun, however, and suitable for most children.