It's pretty, even on the inside: Lucky Catch Cruise to Fort Gorges

Why does Fort Gorges seem to taunt Portlanders so?

It sits out in Casco Bay in full view of the Eastern Prom - easy to see, but not easy to get to.

We've all given it the stare down from the East End or the ferry. We've let our curiosity build around what wonders lay inside it. Maybe we've even willed it to help us out a bit and move just a little closer.

But it doesn't budge. Instead, it chooses to mock us from it's just-out-of-reach place off shore. "You can't get me. Ne-ner, ne-ner, ne-ner."

Lucky for us, Lucky Catch Cruises is offering special excursions out to the fort, so those of us who wouldn't otherwise ever get out there can actually, well, get out there.

On Sunday a curious group boarded the Lucky Catch, which was nodding in the water in it its usual spot at Long Wharf.

The Lucky Catch and its captain Tom are best known for their lobstering tours. But Maine law restricts trap pulling on Sundays, so Tom decided to get a little creative with his offerings.

The boat ride is brief, but Tom did take the opportunity to relay some of the fort dangers: unsteady flooring, falling bricks and a railing-less stairway to nowhere. If anyone felt unsafe upon arrival, he could stay on the boat and wouldn't be charged. "You'll at least get a free boat ride out of it," he said.

Parents need to keep an eye on the kids, too, to prevent an accidental fall at some of the fort's more precarious spots. "If one of them falls, we'll at least get a free boat ride, right?" a passenger asked.

When the tide allows, private boats are welcome to tie up at the fort to explore. And kayakers can access the fort at any time. A semi-collapsed stone walkway leads to the main entrance.

Inside, it's open air and 360-degrees of rock walls. Both floors are accessible via a spiral staircase at one end. That same staircase enables access to the dirt and foliage-covered roof for a full view of the fort.

Inside, archways repeat one after the other in a seemingly endless pattern.

Every turn offers a glimpse into military past and old-school construction.

And all of it looks cool, even if you haven't a clue what the purpose of half of it was.

Ask questions if you want answers. Or Google it when you get home. But while you're there, your time is best spent taking in a view many Mainers never get to see, even though it's right in our backyard.

Lucky Catch Cruises is offering the Fort Gorges excursion again on July 11 (10:30 am) and August 8 (9 am). The cost is $25 for adults/$20 for juniors and $15 fo kids 12 and under.

They also have cruises to Jewell Island and the Harpswell and Portland Lobsterboat races. Check www.luckycatch.com for the full schedule.