The Castle Blood recipe: mix one of Pittsburgh's most haunted buildings with actors, a historic walking tour, full theatrical sets, an annually changing story, and a choose-your-own-adventure book. Hold the gore. What you wind up with is an experience that's been described as "playing Clue in the Addams Family house." And that stays pretty true to what the minds behind the spectacle intend. Because the emphasis here is on adventure—spooky, yes, and rife with vampires and monsters popping out from closets and corners, but devoid of chainsaw-wielding psychopaths.

Instead of being scared out of their wits, guests will have to use their wits to participate in the story, with the outcome—escape or an eternal stay—hinging on every choice and encounter along the way. Much more than a haunted house, Castle Blood blends classic American Halloween with a walk-through theatrical performance that you participate in. Vampires, witches, and monsters wait to tempt, help, or hinder you. It all depends on how you play the game and the decisions you make. Whether stumbling across a witch in the woods or a ghost in the line for the gift shop, each interaction can change the course of the visit. The fun doesn't end with Halloween, either. Enjoy their annual winter holidays show, with new challenges and new themed rooms decorated by the Castle Blood denizens themselves.