The co-owner of Crazy Rhythms, a record store in San Antonio, thinks getting a decent cassette deck is where it's at. The Walkman may be the way to go for people who want a more artistic look. The beholder has it in their ear.
It's possible to find a good cassette player at a garage sale or thrift store if you're lucky. If you want to find pre-owned cassette players in person, you can go to a local record shop, flea market, or thrift store. It is possible to find models that were produced while cassettes were mainstream because of the low prices. Local record stores will probably have had the cassette player serviced. Ask them if they know anyone who can fix cassette players.
You can buy those tapes.
Independent record stores are often the best place to find cassettes in person. TapeHeadCity and Retrospekt are two record shops that sell online. Even used bookstores that carry music will usually be filled with amazing old titles at great prices.
There are things to keep in mind.
cassettes are a niche format due to nostalgia and a love of old music. If you shop at record stores and second-hand stores, you can find the right tapes and equipment to play them on.
If your local record store doesn't sell the player, you should talk to them. Take a portable cassette player with you when you go to thrift stores, flea markets, or garage sales to make sure those cassettes play well. The most important tip is to have fun and don't feel pressured to spend a lot of money. You will eventually find what you are looking for if you give yourself enough time.