I don't do a lot of contesting, but one I regularly try to do is the ARRL November Sweepstakes. It's basically a contest to see how may American and Canadian stations you can contact - like Field Day, and if you get everything it's a clean sweep.
Here's how I did this year...
still need Hawaii for my Worked All States - but everything I do is with a long wire antenna 3-5 feet off the ground - basically a NVIS antenna. It's works - for me it's the fun of ham radio - never know what you can work. Still it was need to work most of the continent.