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Forest:
"After several hours of trecking through the steep, rolling hills surrounding the city, you crest one final hill. Standing on top of it, you see magnificent trees of all shapes and sizes, the most striking being the towering ash trees, some of which stand nearly one hundred meters into the air. Colours abound as well - you see the dark green of the ash trees, but also oranges and purples as tiny butterflies flutter through the forest, and a bright blue mushroom grows on a fallen tree at the entrance to the forest. You see glimpses of movement as wild animals curiously gaze out into the surrounding hills, but dash away upon sighting strange new creatures."
(generic enough for sea or land)
This dense metropolis seems split in two by a 300ft cliff, with estates dominating the upper half of the city, but it is the Irespan, a massive ruined bridge that dominates the skyline, long since fallen to ruin, with lone pilings standing offshore daring the centuries to weather them down. High walls and the 300ft tall watchtower give evidence to the untamed nature of the surrounds, but within... Bustling trade, lights, colorful entertainment, business to be conducted, and a statue, fountain, plaque or plinth at almost every intersection, celebrating or memorializing an important event from its past, some known to all, many beyond memory. Welcome to Magnimar, City of Monuments.
Just start writing short stories set in the campaign world you're using, or one you've made. They don't ever have to see the light of day, just write write write. You'll get more confident as you write on. Also, read read read! Read lots of fantasy novels. Lord of the Rings, Malazan Book of the Fallen, Dragonlance Chronicles (and beyond), The Prism Pentad, the Gentlemen Bastards series, etc etc etc... read 'em all. Even fantasy that's kind of crappy is still fun (on that note, read any of the old forgotten realms D&D books from the 80s and 90s).
Don't hesitate to add a picture. I often will pull up a pic on my tablet while giving a good description. Some people do better seeing. Also the pictures make for a good basis to write the description.
Also incorporate more senses, The feel of the sunlight, smell of pine, the stink of the tannery, the sounds of birds, a lone wolf in the distance at night, merchants hawking their wares in a dozen languages, the press of a crowd, the constant feel of being bumped into in the city.
Senses are great as are details of things that look incongruous or mysterious. Players are relying on your descriptions for the things that are important. You need to make these grab their attention.
This was at one time a form of entertainment for me. I would write what I called vignettes. Like a written version of a still-life picture though as some of the examples you're saying show there can (and should!) be movement and life in your descriptions (unless you're describing a lifeless world of course). I start by just imagining the scene. You might hear some folks refer to "painting" or "building" the scene in their mind but I've never had that level of control. Instead it's like a fog reveal for me. Like seeing what was already there. Anyway, however you want to describe it just imagine your scene. Imagine your point of view, where you are standing, where you are looking. How do you feel? Is it cold? Is it hot? Muggy? Coming in by boat? Imagine how much smaller and more cramped boats were likely to be in that era. Remember, engineering has allowed us to compact things like drive mechanisms. Instead of having an engine room below decks you have the oarslots and rowing deck, or you have the sails and associated equipment crowding the top deck. You mentioned Absalom. Go wild! Absalom is practically the center of the Golarion setting, largest city in the region. You can find virtually anything of any kind there. People of every race, of every profession, some keeping quiet to go unnoticed (but perhaps have the players run a Perception check; make the DC attainable; if anyone succeeds, give an additional description of some otherwise unnoticed characters; make it in front of the whole group but look pointedly at those who made the check; it could be a good way to introduce an NPC or it could just be window dressing but sometimes the players like that sort of little reward).
Now consider their state of mind. Are they exhausted by the trip? Have any of them been to a large city before? Are they cultured or rubes? If you've not grown up in, say, New York City, and have only visited once or twice like me, then you can remember how overwhelming the island can feel, how huge and packed and energetic it feels. How strange it was to see so much happening, in fact just *starting*, late at night. How nothing ever stopped or slowed down. How small you felt and yet how much potential you could feel at your fingertips. Try to imagine that sizzle, that spark, that excitement.
Now write it. Use the descriptions you came up with in your head. Describe all five (or six depending on your mood) senses. Good luck!