Gracehill, another small village on the road from Ballymena to Ahoghill, has had a Moravian Settlement since 1764 and has won many 'Best Kept Village Awards', while Broughshane, a village on the other side of Ballymena is the Garden Village of Ulster, having won many awards for its beautiful floral displays. The climb is a relatively gentle one and the view is outstanding from the top. On a clear day you can see Lough Neagh and as far East as the Irish Sea. Also close to Ballymena is Portglenone Forest with its beech and oak trees, red squirrels, huge patches of rhododendrons and spectacular walks. In conclusion, the 'City of the Seven Towers' has been drawing both settlers and tourists alike for centuries.
Hypermarkets are also now commonplace.
Ballymena has also always been a very religious town, known for its Christianity, but also, for its Unionist politics. He was born and raised in Ballymena. With the growth of Ballymena there has come prosperity but in recent years it has also become known as the drugs capital of the North. Sectarianism is not what the police force is fighting today - now they are struggling to contain the drug invasion. For the town's sake the proud people of Ballymena hope that they win this new struggle.