10 Jersey landmarks that make you feel like you’re home

While writing about the burning of Sts. Joseph and Michael's Church in Union City, which is where I attended Mass, I remembered how coming home on the Turnpike as a child, I would always look for it in the landscape of buildings and it would let me know that I was home. So I asked, what are the Jersey landmarks that do the same for you?

Here are some of the answers I received:

Mr Bill's Ice Cream Stand in Winslow — What better welcoming than that giant statue? Reopened after two years, if you're looking for great Jersey fast food this is where you want to go. They've got hot pastrami and corned beef to die for!!

The Circus Drive In — I know it's in danger of closing for good and if it does a great piece of landscape that welcomed us to the shore goes with it.

The Brigantine Lighthouse — All lighthouses make you feel welcome. That harkens back to the sailors.

The head of Franklin Delano Roosevelt — It greets you as you drive through Roosevelt on 571.

The Big Wheel — Where the Roebling Mill used to be

Geets Diner — Closed last year, but who can forget the big vertical sign that greeted you on Blackhorse Pike?

Olga's Diner — Was located at the circle of routes 73 and 70. Food so good it made the circle tolerable!

St. Michaels Monastery in Union City — After looking for St Joe's, the dome of St Michaels was just a little to the right, or about 4 blocks of city streets.

Carmen's Pete and Elda's in Neptune — Makers of incredible pizza! Nice and paper thin.

Hess building in Woodbridge — Driving back to Marlboro from North Jersey, we'd get on the Turnpike at Exit 11 and the Hess Building always made me feel like I was getting closer to my destination. Definitely one of the milestones in the trip.

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