Boo. Did we get you? Probably not, but we know who will.

With Halloween just around the corner, the time is perfect to get all spooked up at one of the season's standard scares: haunted houses.

Long a tradition among those who love a good fright, there seems to be a haunted house everywhere you look and for (almost) everyone in the family.

But before you go, we thought it might be nice to let you know exactly what to expect at a few of the area's more popular haunts, and which one might be the right choice for your group.

A brave team of some excited haunted house enthusiasts and some who were, well, a bit more nervous visited three area spook fests and this is what we saw - when we could keep our eyes open: Spooky World

Bayside Expo Center, Boston

Cost: $24.50 per adult, children 12 and under, $18.50; plus $12 per car for parking.

Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28, 6 to 11 p.m. (guests will be given time to finish attractions)

Visit: www.spookyworld.com

The lights are low, the creatures everywhere, and the screams are loud inside this mini-Halloween village, where you'll find a feast of frights to entertain you throughout the night.

Step inside the main entrance and be greeted by any one of a dozen or so beasts and creatures roaming the sites right next to you, as you and your family or friends make your way through six mini-haunted houses.

The Catacombs, a "gothic crypt" full of ghouls, zombies and witches, was scary enough to keep my friend jumping, with her eyes tightly closed, throughout. But those who kept their eyes open were mostly able to tell which creatures were about to strike. Jekyll's Mansion, decorated as the broken-down mansion of the infamous mad scientist, did a much better job of keeping visitors on their toes, and the costumes inside this haunt were eye-catching. The Experiment, which had the longest line, was by far the scariest, making use of a well-designed set that included well-used strobe lighting. Here, the creatures came closer to us than any other attraction.

You also can enjoy some tamer, carnival-like attractions to kill some time or take a break from long lines.

Get your photo taken inside a graveyard, listen to a scary ghost story, try out a carnival game, or take a stroll through the monster museum, which has replicas of famous movie monsters, and maybe even a surprise. What we liked: Lots to see and do. Carnival creatures really add to the atmosphere and know how to spook even better than the actors inside the attractions. Though the Alien Escape wasn't too scary, it had some pretty neat 3-D effects.

What we didn't like: Dracula's Castle was a major disappointment. Though we heard from other guests this was the scariest house, it was mostly just a lot of made-up women in white nightgowns. We didn't even see Dracula. The houses are a little cramped, and if you happen to be leading a group, be prepared to get very close to strangers behind you. If you are subject to motion sickness or are light sensitive, this probably isn't the place for you.

The Haunted Theatre

Orpheum Theatre, 1 School St., Foxboro

Cost: $10 for everyone.

Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28, 7 to 10 p.m.

Visit: www.foxborojaycees.org.

Ever wonder exactly what's behind the curtain at an old-fashioned theater?

Well, this probably isn't really it, but you'll get a pretty neat view of the Orpheum Theater's backstage passageways as you make your way on a guided tour of the theater, which has been converted into a haunt full of spooky Hollywood characters.

Put on by the Foxboro Jaycees, a nonprofit that focuses on community development, your admission goes to charity. This haunted house is more family friendly and somewhat funny than outright frightful.

Some really neat special effects - watch out for the train - and a somewhat spooky walk through the theater's blacked-out stairwells give a heightened sense of suspense to the tour.

What we liked: The guided tour worked well, and the guide we had was able to turn some bad timing and ineffective spooks into a laughable treat. Waiting inside the lobby - instead of outside as in previous years - and watching scary movie clips are enjoyable extras. The concession stand was open for those who wanted a snack. While the tour wasn't big on screams, that made it very child friendly. The tour is recommended for children ages 10 and up, but we suspect you could bring someone a bit younger.

What we didn't like: The actors get a little too close for anyone's comfort at times, and some were truly unimpressive, turning to talk to each other before the last tour group member was out of ear shot, which takes you right out of the scary mood. Though there is one last big scare - just when you thought you were done - the actors also congregated at the theater's entrance on their breaks. It would be more effective to not see them, unless they were walking around in character.

Haunted Hill

Diamond Hill State Park, Cumberland, R.I.

Cost: $10 for everyone.

Open: Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 28, 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Visit: www.hauntedhill.net.

Ever wonder what it's like to walk alone through the woods in the pitch-black night knowing that dozens of scary creatures are waiting around every corner, in every bush and tree, ready to jump out and spook you?

Head to Haunted Hill, the ultimate in haunted house atmosphere.

The almost half-hour long walk through the woods takes visitors on a haunting experience. Friday and Saturday nights are geared for younger children and the trail has lights and music. Sunday night - when we went - is intended for an older crowd (13 and up). The trail is blacked out and your group of six to eight brave souls can let your leader hold a flashlight as you make your way into theme tunnels. There you'll encounter every creature from pyscho clowns and Dracula to Michael Meyers, Freddy Kreuger and the gang from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Just being in the dark woods gets you scared. The characters, at least those who were well timed, seal the deal. Especially impressive was the "Chainsaw" sequence. The actors there played off each other extremely well and were able to scare even the last members of the group. The trail was also organized well enough so you were never sure if someone - or something - was coming to get you. The haystack/cornfield trail added an eery element to the tour.

What we liked: That the tour was self-guided. That added to the feeling of being truly alone in the woods. People are sent in small groups, just the right size for walking alone.

What we didn't like: You could trip on the trails, so wear sneakers. Giving just one person a flashlight on blackout night takes some fun out of the tunnels. Those of us in the back of the group couldn't really see recognizable movie characters, whose fearsome faces inspire terror. There weren't a lot of extras. Haunted Hill could take advantage of its fall theme by offering hot apple cider and other treats for sale, and have characters walk around while guests endure the almost 90-minute wait.

REBECCA KEISTER can be reached at 508-236-0336 or at rkeister@thesunchronicle.com.