Tiles, Friends, and Fortunes = Mahjong & Mischief

Tiles, Friends, and Fortunes: Mahjong & Mischief

A few months ago, I did something I didn't expect I put down my phone. Not for five minutes. Not to charge it. For over two whole hours, completely voluntarily, and I have been doing it ever since. The culprit? Mahjong.

I started playing Chinese-style Mahjong earlier this year, and I am, without any exaggeration, completely hooked. What started as curiosity has turned into a full-blown lifestyle. And most importantly, I couldn't be happier about it.

Why Mahjong, Why Now?

Here's what I didn't realize I was missing: a reason to sit around a table with people and actually be with them. No scrolling, no notifications, no half-conversations while everyone stares at a screen. Just tiles, strategy, laughter, and real human connection. For two hours at a stretch, my phone doesn't exist. That alone would be reason enough, but Mahjong gives you so much more.

It exercises your brain in the best possible way. You're reading the table, tracking what's been played, calculating your odds, adjusting your strategy mid-game. It's a mental workout disguised as a fun time. And the social element is genuinely special. I've gotten to know people better over a Mahjong table than I ever would have at a dinner party.

I now play once a week at our country club, and once my lessons begin, I'll be adding a second weekly session with that group too at a local church. Two games a week. No apologies.

Mahjong Is Having a Moment — and I'm Here for It

I'm apparently not the only one who's caught the bug. If you've been paying attention, Mahjong is everywhere right now. PBS NewsHour recently called it out directly: "Once seen as an old-fashioned pastime, the Chinese game of mahjong is having a moment," with fresh players of all ages strategizing and socializing at tables from coast to coast. PBS

Yelp named it a top trend of 2026, reporting that searches for Mahjong clubs surged over 4,400% year over year, and searches for Mahjong lessons rose 819%. Even Julia Roberts is apparently a regular. The Smithsonian Magazine noted that Mahjong clubs with light shows and DJs are forming in Los Angeles and New York, and luxury hotels like the Standard in New York City are now hosting Mahjong nights for guests. And AFAR, one of my favorite travel publications, recently ran a feature on exactly this: hotels across the U.S. are turning Mahjong into the new social hour, with resorts partnering with local Mahjong clubs to offer instruction and open play throughout their properties.

Some people are already calling it the next pickleball. I'd say the tiles are a lot prettier and I can’t get hurt unless someone hits me in the head with a rack! I'll think about my tiles and travel while I walk for exercise.

The Great Tile Acquisition

Once I was hooked, I did what any reasonable new obsessive does: I started acquiring things.

My first set was a Chinese Mahjong set from Amazon, beautiful plain tiles, and I love them. But I knew I wanted to host events, and I'd also heard about American Mahjong, which uses a different ruleset, a special card, and has its own devoted following. So I needed American tiles. And I needed travel tiles, because of course I did.

I spotted a listing on OfferUp, a full American Mahjong set, canvas carry bag, tiles in their original plastic containers, still in the box. Never touched. For forty dollars. $40!!

Now, if you've ever bought something off the internet from a stranger, you know the protocol: always meet in a public place. Always. I had arranged to meet in a big parking lot, but the seller got delayed. So I told him to meet me at the Hobby Lobby I was already heading to, where, as it happened, I was planning to pick up a little twenty-dollar American travel set (and I did along with another set of plastic racks for just $10). I read about those in one of my new Facebook groups - like my friend Jamie at "The Mahj Lounge". She is designing set of tiles and I am saving my Mahjong winnings to buy them. I also like Pretty in Mahjong with Julie.

So back to my tile buying adventure - there I was, standing in the Hobby Lobby parking lot (a place I never go), handing two twenty-dollar bills to a guy for a box of tiles he was pulling out of his car. It felt exactly like buying counterfeit watches from someone in a trench coat on a street corner. We both kind of laughed about it. It was perfectly legal and completely wholesome, but the optics were something else entirely. Worth it. Completely worth it.

Setting the Scene

A beautiful game deserves a beautiful setting. I've been putting together a table I genuinely love coming back to. My latest addition is a gorgeous mat covered in lemons, which, if you know me, makes perfect sense, because I have also been lemon-obsessed ever since a trip to Italy. There's just something about that cheerful yellow that makes the whole table feel alive. I also added a small lamp for the center. Ambiance matters. Oh, and don't judge - I have cute Mahjong t-shirt and a pair of Mahjong Dragon tile earrings - why? Because they make ME happy.

A Mahjong-Filled Day

A few days ago, I had friends over during the day for a session, and one of my friends got her very first Mahjong win. She was thrilled, and honestly, watching someone experience that for the first time is its own kind of joy. That evening, a whole new group of friends came over for another round.

Two separate Mahjong sessions in one day. I have no regrets.

The Travel Angle — Because Of Course There Is - this IS Ageless Adventures!

Now here's where my two worlds collide: travel and Mahjong.

I tried to bring a group to Las Vegas this August, Mahjong in Vegas felt perfect, honestly, but after two genuinely stressful weeks of trying to make it work, I had to let it go. Coordinating a small group with large hotel pricing structures and all the coordination that goes with it turned into more headache than joy. Sometimes you must know when to fold your tiles.

But something much better is already in the works. In July 2027, I have a river cruise through Provence “Colors of Provence”, and I specifically designed this trip to weave together three of my great loves: Mahjong, lavender, and wine. Casual play onboard as time permits, drifting through one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I built this itinerary with Mahjong as part of the experience, not an afterthought, and I cannot wait.

For fellow travelers who share the obsession, you'll be happy to know the game is making its way into the travel world in a tangible way. AFAR recently noted that resorts are now actively programming Mahjong into the guest experience, partnering with local clubs and leagues to bring instruction and community right to the property. It won't be long before "Does the hotel have a Mahjong night?" becomes as standard a question as "Does it have a spa?"

I now am trying to set up a Fresno/Clovis club – and have a virtual meeting to discuss in a few days with a few sign-ups. I also created another Facebook page – Mahjong & Mischief, along with IG and TikTok to share ideas, tips, and of course beautiful tablescapes.

What's Next

In early July, I begin American Mahjong lessons with a local teacher. The two styles are quite different — different tiles, different rules, a card that changes each year (mine is on order and a friend made a copy for me to start with). I'm excited to add a whole new game to my repertoire while keeping up my Chinese-style play at the club.

If you've been curious about Mahjong, I'd say this: just try it. Find a group (they are literally all over the country) sit down and give it two hours. You might put down your phone and never want to pick it back up, at least not while the tiles are on the table.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lemon mat to smooth out, a lamp to center, and tiles that aren't going to arrange themselves.

About

Contact

Submit a story

Senior Travel Adventures © 2024

Ageless Adventures is about empowerment, encouragement, and support to take the trip! We respect your privacy.

Please sign up for our newsletter below :

Terms & Conditions

Privacy policy

We care about your data in our privacy policy.