Sycamore Cove has lovely trees fronting the beach. This makes it a nice place to relax for a while, in the shade. It's in a barren area, but the mountains that rise above it look quite nice. Mugu Rock can be seen from the beach, but isn't actually that pretty, especially since it was artificially made when the road was dynamited. The beach has a whopping $12 day use fee, or $3 an hour. Despite the fee, the small beach and shady picnic area that fronts the water is very popular and can be too overrun with people on the weekends.

To get to this beach from the north you must drive through Oxnard, which is an ugly sprawl of methyl-bromided strawberry fields, tract homes, and strip malls.
North of Sycamore Cove, before you get to Thornhill Broome Beach, check out the giant sand dune and across the street from it, dozens of rock stack statues along the water! 
While you're in the Oxnard area, a nice place to go is Oxnard Beach, where kids can play on the sand dunes. Channel Islands Harbor has some fun activities on holidays. Peninsula Park is a great park by the harbor where kids can watch the boats go by and toddler will like the playground.
A really nice outing is Port Hueneme Pier, with its white sandy beach and its interesting history.
For some more history, head over to Downtown Oxnard and Heritage Square, with its Victorian houses- at Christmas time the houses are decorated beautifully and you can do a tour.

Directions

Sycamore Cove is located 15 miles south of Oxnard on Highway 1. Follow the large signs to Sycamore Cove.
There are restrooms.

Click on map for interactive view